Optometrists Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Optometrists in St. Louis, MO-IL make a median of $130,620 a year, or about $62.8 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.09), that's roughly $137,365 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,218/month, or 15.4% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $131K get you in St. Louis?
About optometrists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Louis, MO-IL
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K.Top earners bring in $171K or more - a $111K spread from bottom to top.
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 St. Louis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do optometrists make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median is $130,620 a year - that works out to about $62.8 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,990, and experienced optometrists can clear $170,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in St. Louis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,881/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,218/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 15.5% 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 St. Louis?
St. Louis has a Regional Price Parity of 95.09 (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 $137,365 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.