Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in North Carolina make a median of $161,560 a year, or about $77.67 an hour. The range runs from $94K at the entry level to $215K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $174,358 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 12.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $162K get you in North Carolina?
About optometrists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
North Carolina 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 $1,284/month, 13.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Carolina offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $94K. Mid-career wages sit at $162K. Top earners bring in $215K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in North Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $168K | +4% | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $167K | +3% | 40 |
| Wilmington | $164K | +1% | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $163K | +1% | 240 |
| Winston-Salem | $163K | +1% | 70 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $157K | -3% | 260 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $137K | -15% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $162K, rent takes 13.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $94K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,659/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $162K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for optometrists?
North Carolina pays $162K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in North Carolina?
The median is $161,560 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,320, and experienced optometrists can clear $215,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $162K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,492/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 13.5% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $174,358 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.