Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Topeka, KS make a median of $130,930 a year, or about $62.95 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $193K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.82), which stretches that salary to about $147,410 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,057/month, or 13.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Topeka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Topeka’s Regional Price Parity (88.82). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Topeka
Optometrists pay in Topeka tracks closely to the national median, $131K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,057/month, 13.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.82 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for optometrists in metros near Topeka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $124K | $139K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $158K | , |
| Kansas City | $139K | $150K |
| St. Louis | $135K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Topeka, KS
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $193K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Optometrists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170K | +25% | 60 |
| Maryland | $166K | +21% | 780 |
| North Carolina | $162K | +18% | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161K | +18% | 190 |
| New York | $161K | +18% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159K | +16% | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $159K | +16% | 710 |
| Washington | $158K | +15% | 760 |
| Hawaii | $155K | +13% | 230 |
| Maine | $154K | +13% | 180 |
| Colorado | $152K | +11% | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $152K | +11% | 950 |
| Florida | $152K | +11% | 2,350 |
| Connecticut | $150K | +10% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $146K | +7% | 480 |
| Illinois | $146K | +7% | 1,540 |
| Alabama | $145K | +6% | 460 |
| New Mexico | $145K | +6% | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $140K | +2% | 790 |
| Kansas | $139K | +1% | 660 |
| Vermont | $137K | +1% | 90 |
| California | $136K | -0% | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $136K | -1% | 1,410 |
| Nevada | $136K | -1% | 430 |
| Indiana | $136K | -1% | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | -1% | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $135K | -1% | 1,300 |
| District of Columbia | $135K | -1% | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $135K | -2% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $134K | -2% | 660 |
| Missouri | $134K | -2% | 630 |
| North Dakota | $132K | -3% | 140 |
| Oregon | $132K | -3% | 560 |
| Virginia | $132K | -4% | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $129K | -6% | 430 |
| Georgia | $129K | -6% | 870 |
| Texas | $126K | -8% | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $126K | -8% | 210 |
| Iowa | $125K | -8% | 450 |
| Nebraska | $125K | -8% | 340 |
| Arkansas | $124K | -9% | 320 |
| Arizona | $122K | -10% | 1,080 |
| Utah | $119K | -13% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $118K | -14% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $118K | -14% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $111K | -18% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $108K | -21% | 240 |
| Montana | $104K | -24% | 140 |
| Idaho | $103K | -24% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $102K | -25% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $97K | -29% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Topeka numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Topeka?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 13.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,057/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Topeka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,026/month. At HUD’s $1,057/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Topeka?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $131K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Topeka compare to the national average for optometrists?
Topeka pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Topeka, KS?
The median is $130,930 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,770, and experienced optometrists can clear $192,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Topeka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,787/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,057/month, which eats 13.6% 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 Topeka?
Topeka has a Regional Price Parity of 88.82 (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 $147,410 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.