Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in New York make a median of $161,140 a year, or about $77.47 an hour. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $203K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $164,077 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $161K get you in New York?
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,917/month, 20.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New York offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $161K. Top earners bring in $203K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in New York
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $166K | +3% | 160 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $164K | +2% | 130 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $162K | +0% | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $161K | -0% | 2,580 |
| Rochester | $159K | -1% | 120 |
| Syracuse | $154K | -5% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $161K, rent takes 20.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,728/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in New York?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $161K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for optometrists?
New York pays $161K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $164K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in New York?
The median is $161,140 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,460, and experienced optometrists can clear $203,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $161K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,356/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 20.5% 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 York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $164,077 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.