Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in North Dakota make a median of $132,110 a year, or about $63.51 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $179K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $148,622 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 12.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $132K actually covers in North Dakota, month by month
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Optometrists pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $132K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 12.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, North Dakota
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $179K or more, a $104K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in North Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $133K | +0% | 40 |
| Bismarck | $121K | -8% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 12.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,952/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for optometrists?
North Dakota pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in North Dakota?
The median is $132,110 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,610, and experienced optometrists can clear $178,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,206/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 12.6% 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 Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $148,622 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.