Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Tennessee make a median of $134,170 a year, or about $64.51 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $149,443 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 14% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Tennessee?
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Optometrists pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $134K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 14.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $120K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol | $150K | +12% | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $144K | +8% | 180 |
| Clarksville | $132K | -1% | 30 |
| Memphis | $129K | -4% | 110 |
| Chattanooga | $127K | -6% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $125K | -7% | 80 |
| Johnson City | $115K | -14% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 14.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,858/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $134K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for optometrists?
Tennessee pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $149K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Tennessee?
The median is $134,170 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,630, and experienced optometrists can clear $167,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,538/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 14.2% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $149,443 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.