Optometrists pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,220 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Albuquerque earn between $124,520 and $184,770.
- $62K10th
- $125K25th
- $166KMedian
- $185K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $160,830 | $13,402 | $77.32 |
| Median | $165,810 | $13,818 | $79.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $124,520 | $10,377 | $59.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $184,770 | $15,398 | $88.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Optometrists in Albuquerque earn 5% more than the New Mexico average ($153,180) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $160,830 | $165,810 | $62,110 | $209,220 | 70 |
| New Mexico | $153,180 | $144,660 | $88,160 | $202,980 | 130 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $160,830, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $114,644 a year, or $9,554 a month and $4,409 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Albuquerque a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $160,830 buys what about $168,327 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in nearby metro areas
- El Paso, TX$117,000
- Amarillo, TX$132,500
- Colorado Springs, CO$131,420
- Lubbock, TX$127,010
- Denver, CO$160,020
- Phoenix, AZ$133,790
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Albuquerque?
$77.32 an hour on average, and $79.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $124,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $114,644 a year ($9,554 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $160,830.
Do optometrists earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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