Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Pennsylvania make a median of $135,400 a year, or about $65.1 an hour. The range runs from $93K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $142,571 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 16.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in Pennsylvania?
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Optometrists pay in Pennsylvania 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 $1,351/month, 16.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $93K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Pennsylvania
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $154K | +14% | 890 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $151K | +11% | 100 |
| Reading | $139K | +3% | 40 |
| York-Hanover | $135K | -0% | 80 |
| Erie | $134K | -1% | 40 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $134K | -1% | 90 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $133K | -2% | 80 |
| Lancaster | $132K | -2% | 60 |
| Pittsburgh | $130K | -4% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 16.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $93K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,578/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for optometrists?
Pennsylvania pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $143K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $135,400 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,970, and experienced optometrists can clear $173,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,262/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 16.4% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $142,571 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.