Optometrists pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $199,010 or more. The middle half of optometrists in New Orleans earn between $110,630 and $166,600.
- $51K10th
- $111K25th
- $136KMedian
- $167K75th
- $199K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $138,070 | $11,506 | $66.38 |
| Median | $136,200 | $11,350 | $65.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $110,630 | $9,219 | $53.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,600 | $13,883 | $80.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Optometrists in New Orleans earn 14% more than the Louisiana average ($121,000) and about the same as the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $138,070 | $136,200 | $51,140 | $199,010 | 50 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $138,070, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $101,881 a year, or $8,490 a month and $3,918 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $138,070 buys what about $149,109 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 2 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 New Orleans: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in New Orleans?
$66.38 an hour on average, and $65.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $110,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $101,881 a year ($8,490 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $138,070.
Do optometrists earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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