Optometrists pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $197,330 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Louisville earn between $127,620 and $159,680.
- $96K10th
- $128K25th
- $136KMedian
- $160K75th
- $197K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $147,250 | $12,271 | $70.79 |
| Median | $135,720 | $11,310 | $65.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $127,620 | $10,635 | $61.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,680 | $13,307 | $76.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Optometrists in Louisville earn 3% more than the Kentucky average ($142,710) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $147,250 | $135,720 | $96,370 | $197,330 | 230 |
| Kentucky | $142,710 | $128,860 | $82,240 | $254,630 | 430 |
| 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 Louisville
On the average salary of $147,250, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $103,636 a year, or $8,636 a month and $3,986 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $107,524 | $8,960 |
| Working in KY | $103,636 | $8,636 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $147,250 buys what about $158,207 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$147,250
- Lexington$144,780
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 Louisville: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Louisville?
$70.79 an hour on average, and $65.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $127,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Louisville?
About $103,636 a year ($8,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,250. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do optometrists earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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