Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Rhode Island make a median of $134,520 a year, or about $64.67 an hour. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $216K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $132,180 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,544/month, or 19.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in Rhode Island?
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Optometrists pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,544/month, 19% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $216K or more, a $144K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $140K | +4% | 310 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 19% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,300/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for optometrists?
Rhode Island pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Rhode Island?
The median is $134,520 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,670, and experienced optometrists can clear $215,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,127/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 19% 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $132,180 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.