Optometrists pay range in Fort Collins
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $320,350 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Fort Collins earn between $131,290 and $239,810.
- $104K10th
- $131K25th
- $163KMedian
- $240K75th
- $320K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $183,350 | $15,279 | $88.15 |
| Median | $163,240 | $13,603 | $78.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $131,290 | $10,941 | $63.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $239,810 | $19,984 | $115.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Fort Collins vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Optometrists in Fort Collins earn 20% more than the Colorado average ($152,460) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins | $183,350 | $163,240 | $104,210 | $320,350 | 80 |
| Colorado | $152,460 | $152,000 | $65,910 | $212,120 | 880 |
| United States | $141,550 | $136,570 | $74,870 | $202,180 | 42,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Fort Collins
On the average salary of $183,350, a single filer in Fort Collins takes home about $129,227 a year, or $10,769 a month and $4,970 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Fort Collins a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Collins area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.1), so the average $183,350 buys what about $181,305 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Collins ($55,310). A typical home costs $556,500, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Colorado cities
Fort Collins ranks 1st of 4 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Fort Collins$183,350
- Boulder$160,800
- Denver$160,020
- Colorado Springs$131,420
Highest-paying cities for optometrists
Roanoke, VA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($219,610).
- Roanoke, VA$219,610
- Wilmington, NC$204,680
- Trenton, NJ$186,160
- Fort Collins, CO$183,350
- Santa Rosa, CA$172,860
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Optometrists salary in Fort Collins: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Fort Collins?
$88.15 an hour on average, and $78.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Fort Collins?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $104,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $131,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Fort Collins?
About $129,227 a year ($10,769 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $183,350. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do optometrists earn more in Fort Collins than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($141,550).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1041; area Fort Collins-Loveland, CO (22660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.66, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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