Salary for Optometrist Jobs

Highest Salaries By City for Optometrist Jobs

Top Cities by Popularity for Optometrist Jobs

Highest Salaries By City Top Cities by Popularity

Highest Salaries By City 1. Minneapolis, Minnesota 2. Columbus, Ohio 3. St. Louis, Missouri 4. Phoenix, Arizona 5. San Jose, California 6. Fairfax, Virginia 7. Miami, Florida 8. New York, New York 9. Dallas, Texas 10. Rochester, New York 11. Chicago, Illinois 12. Birmingham, Alabama 13. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 14. Los Angeles, California 15. Atlanta, Georgia 16. Boston, Massachusetts 17. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 18. Lexington, Kentucky 19. Portland, Oregon 20. Austin, Texas Top Cities by Popularity 1. Houston, Texas 2. Los Angeles, California 3. San Diego, California 4. New York, New York 5. Chicago, Illinois 6. Boston, Massachusetts 7. Atlanta, Georgia

Optometrist Salary Questions

Optometry can be a very rewarding field. Helping people see clearly, whether through eye therapy or assistance from glasses or contacts, can allow for greater independence and increase quality of life dramatically. The National Institute of Health estimates that six percent of Americans - around 14 million people - need corrective lenses. Although treatments such as laser eye surgery are gaining in popularity, most people are still turning to optometrists for ongoing visual care. Before entering this field, optometrists often have questions: What are optometrist starting salaries? What is an optometrist salary like in my area? Which is clearer: one ... or two? There's no need to squint to make out the answers to these and many other optometry salary questions; they're all contained in PayScale's salary survey data.

Optometrist Starting Salaries

Increasingly, earning an advanced degree such as a Doctorate of Optometry means incurring some student loans. In some careers, the salary benefits of an advanced degree can take several years to kick in. Some Ph.D.s end up fearing calls from student loan officers even more than the dreaded glaucoma air puff test! It's no wonder, then, that optometrist starting salaries are an object of curiosity. The Optometrist Starting Salaries chart shows that, on average, optometrists can expect relatively high starting salaries. Of course, optometrist starting salaries will vary depending on location and other factors, which is why the salary chart shows a broad range of possible salaries even in the first year. Over 20 years, these high optometrist starting salaries can grow even more - the chart shows a steady increase in optometrist salary over time.

Optometrist Average Salary Data

You might be able to find the big "E" on an eye chart, but can you find the city that will allow you to earn the highest optometrist salary? Measuring Optometrist Salary by City, New York and Seattle stand out as top contenders for highest optometrist average salary. Keep in mind, though, that salary data by city alone can be misleading, since cost of living can vary so widely in only a few hundred miles. Turn to the PayScale Cost of Living Calculator to gain insight into that added dimension of salary research. Not surprisingly, comparing Cost of Living and Optometrist Salary Data for New York and Seattle shows a much higher cost of living for NYC along with highly competitive salaries in Seattle. Another factor affecting the average optometrist salary is education. In the United States, practicing optometrists must have earned a doctorate from an accredited school. However, not all optometry schools are created equal, and just as in any other field, choosing one college over another could impact an optometrist's salary - particularly his or her starting salary. Research Optometrist Salary by School Name to compare and contrast.