Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in New Mexico make a median of $144,660 a year, or about $69.55 an hour. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $203K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $155,448 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 12.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $145K get you in New Mexico?
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Optometrists pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $145K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 13% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $145K. Top earners bring in $203K or more, a $115K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $166K | +15% | 70 |
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Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $145K, rent takes 13% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,290/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $145K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for optometrists?
New Mexico pays $145K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $155K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in New Mexico?
The median is $144,660 a year, that works out to about $70 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,160, and experienced optometrists can clear $202,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $145K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,628/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 13% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a optometrists salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $155,448 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do optometrists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.