How Much Do Optometrists Make in 2026? (OD Salary Guide)

Updated

Optometrists in the US earn $131,860 on average — with private practice owners and medical optometrists earning $150,000-$300,000+.

Average Optometrist Salary in 2026

Metric Amount
Average optometrist salary $131,860
Median optometrist salary $130,690
New graduate (year 1) $105,000-$120,000
Corporate OD $120,000-$145,000
Private practice owner $150,000-$300,000+
Top 10% earn $180,000+
Hourly rate (average) $63.39

Optometrist Salary by Employment Type

Employment Type Average Salary
Corporate (Luxottica, Walmart, Costco) $125,000-$145,000
Private practice employee $115,000-$140,000
Private practice owner $150,000-$300,000
Ophthalmology group (employed) $130,000-$170,000
Medical optometry (hospital/VA) $130,000-$160,000
Academia $100,000-$140,000
Industry (pharmaceutical) $140,000-$200,000

Corporate vs. Private Practice

Factor Corporate Private Practice Owner
Salary $125,000-$145,000 $150,000-$300,000
Production bonus Often Based on ownership
Hours Set, often weekends Flexible
Benefits Excellent Self-funded
Loan repayment Sometimes offered N/A
Business risk None Full

Optometrist Salary by Practice Focus

Focus Area Average Salary
Medical optometry $140,000-$180,000
Specialty contact lenses $130,000-$160,000
Ocular disease management $135,000-$165,000
Primary care optometry $120,000-$145,000
Pediatric optometry $125,000-$155,000
Dry eye specialty $140,000-$180,000
Vision therapy $130,000-$170,000

Medical Optometry Premium

Medical-focused ODs (treating ocular disease, co-managing surgery) often earn 15-30% more than routine refraction-focused practices.

Optometrist Salary by State

Highest Paying States

State Average Salary
Alaska $180,000
Wyoming $165,000
Vermont $160,000
Montana $155,000
Delaware $152,000
Connecticut $150,000

Lowest Paying States

State Average Salary
Louisiana $100,000
Mississippi $105,000
Arkansas $108,000
Kentucky $110,000
West Virginia $112,000

Rural and underserved areas often pay premiums.

Optometrist Salary by Experience

Experience Employed OD Practice Owner
New grad $105,000-$120,000 N/A (building)
1-3 years $115,000-$130,000 $100,000-$150,000
3-5 years $125,000-$140,000 $140,000-$180,000
5-10 years $135,000-$155,000 $170,000-$230,000
10-20 years $145,000-$165,000 $200,000-$280,000
20+ years $150,000-$175,000 $220,000-$350,000

Optometrist Salary After Taxes

Gross Salary Federal Tax FICA/SE Tax State Tax Take-Home
$120,000 $18,400 $9,180* $4,800 $87,620
$150,000 $28,800 $11,475* $6,000 $103,725
$200,000 $42,300 $15,300* $8,000 $134,400
$280,000 $66,200 $17,074* $11,200 $185,526

*Self-employment tax for owners; W-2 employees pay half

Private Practice Owner Economics

Revenue by Practice Size

Practice Type Gross Revenue Owner Draw
Solo (1 OD) $500,000-$800,000 $150,000-$250,000
2-doctor practice $1,000,000-$1,500,000 $200,000-$350,000
Multi-location $2,000,000+ $300,000-$500,000+

Typical Expense Breakdown

Expense % of Revenue
Cost of goods (frames/lenses) 25-35%
Staff salaries 20-28%
Rent/occupancy 6-10%
Marketing 2-5%
Equipment/supplies 3-5%
Other overhead 8-12%
Owner profit 20-35%

How to Earn More as an Optometrist

  1. Own a practice — $150K-$300K+ vs. $130K employed
  2. Medical optometry focus — Higher reimbursement
  3. Specialty services — Dry eye, specialty contacts, vision therapy
  4. Rural/underserved areas — Often 20-30% premium
  5. Optical revenue — Capture vs. refer out
  6. Multiple revenue streams — Medical, vision therapy, optical
  7. Efficiency optimization — More patients per day
  8. Associate recruitment — Scale beyond your hours

Education & Student Debt

Optometry School

Component Cost/Duration
Bachelor’s degree 4 years, $40,000-$120,000
OD program 4 years
OD tuition (total) $150,000-$250,000
Average graduate debt $200,000-$280,000
Residency (optional) 1 year, modest stipend

Debt-to-Income Analysis

Debt Starting Salary Ratio
$200,000 $115,000 1.7:1 (manageable)
$250,000 $115,000 2.2:1 (challenging)
$280,000 $115,000 2.4:1 (difficult)

Income-driven repayment and PSLF options exist.

Job Outlook for Optometrists

Metric Data
Projected growth (2022-2032) 9% (faster than average)
Annual job openings 1,600
Number of ODs in US ~45,000
Demand drivers Aging population, scope expansion
Role Average Salary Education
Ophthalmologist (MD) $315,000 12-14 years
Optometrist (OD) $131,860 8 years
Physician (MD, avg) $239,000 11+ years
Dentist (DDS) $163,220 8 years
Pharmacist (PharmD) $133,270 6-8 years

Is Optometry a Good Career?

Pros:

  • Strong salary ($130K average, $200K+ as owner)
  • Good work-life balance
  • Low physical demands
  • Expanding scope of practice
  • Practice ownership opportunity
  • Stable demand

Cons:

  • High student debt ($200K-$280K)
  • Corporate competition
  • Saturated markets in some cities
  • Scope battles with ophthalmology
  • Practice startup costs
  • Weekend/evening hours sometimes required

Bottom Line

Optometrists earn $131,860/year on average, with corporate ODs earning $125,000-$145,000 and successful private practice owners earning $180,000-$300,000+. Medical optometry and specialty services command premium income. Student debt averaging $200,000-$280,000 is significant but manageable with optometry salaries. Practice ownership offers the highest earning potential but requires business skills and startup capital. Job growth (9%) is strong, driven by an aging population.

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