Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in West Virginia make a median of $118,010 a year, or about $56.74 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $199K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $132,551 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 13.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $118K get you in West Virginia?
About optometrists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for optometrists in West Virginia runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 14% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for optometristss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $199K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in West Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $104K | -12% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 14% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,190/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $118K here vs. $137K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for optometrists?
West Virginia pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in West Virginia?
The median is $118,010 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,830, and experienced optometrists can clear $198,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,188/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 14% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $132,551 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.