Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Ohio make a median of $134,850 a year, or about $64.83 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $191K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $147,458 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 14.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in Ohio?
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What this looks like in Ohio
Optometrists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 14.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $191K or more, a $127K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Ohio
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $157K | +16% | 300 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $139K | +3% | 70 |
| Cleveland | $136K | +1% | 250 |
| Columbus | $133K | -1% | 260 |
| Akron | $131K | -3% | 70 |
| Toledo | $131K | -3% | 60 |
| Canton-Massillon | $127K | -6% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 14.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,819/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for optometrists?
Ohio pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Ohio?
The median is $134,850 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,650, and experienced optometrists can clear $190,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,303/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 14.3% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $147,458 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.