Optometrists Salary in North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina make a median of $153,750 a year, or about $73.92 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $72K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $154K get you in North Carolina?
About optometrists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $154K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Optometrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $166K | +23% | 70 |
| New York | $163K | +21% | 2,500 |
| Maryland | $158K | +17% | 870 |
| Washington | $158K | +17% | 930 |
| Vermont | $156K | +16% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $156K | +16% | 950 |
| New Mexico | $155K | +15% | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $154K | +14% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $154K | +14% | 1,400 |
| Massachusetts | $151K | +12% | 1,120 |
| Minnesota | $150K | +11% | 700 |
| Nevada | $147K | +9% | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $144K | +7% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $143K | +6% | 410 |
| Delaware | $138K | +2% | 180 |
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
How much do optometrists make in North Carolina?
The median is $153,750 a year - that works out to about $73.92 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $154K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,077/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $1,348/month (median of metro areas), which eats 14.9% 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 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $153,750 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.