Optometrists pay range in Baton Rouge
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $180,410 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Baton Rouge earn between $102,320 and $131,080.
- $37K10th
- $102K25th
- $115KMedian
- $131K75th
- $180K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,070 | $9,756 | $56.28 |
| Median | $115,210 | $9,601 | $55.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,320 | $8,527 | $49.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,080 | $10,923 | $63.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Baton Rouge vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Optometrists in Baton Rouge earn 3% less than the Louisiana average ($121,000) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $117,070 | $115,210 | $37,250 | $180,410 | 40 |
| Louisiana | $121,000 | $118,060 | $45,420 | $183,670 | 250 |
| 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 Baton Rouge
On the average salary of $117,070, a single filer in Baton Rouge takes home about $88,063 a year, or $7,339 a month and $3,387 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Baton Rouge a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baton Rouge area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $117,070 buys what about $128,960 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Baton Rouge ($48,710). A typical home costs $248,176, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Louisiana cities
Baton Rouge ranks 2nd of 2 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($138,070).
- New Orleans$138,070
- Baton Rouge$117,070
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 Baton Rouge: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Baton Rouge?
$56.29 an hour on average, and $55.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Baton Rouge?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Baton Rouge?
About $88,063 a year ($7,339 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,070.
Do optometrists earn more in Baton Rouge than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Baton Rouge, LA (12940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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