Optometrists pay range in Charlotte
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,790 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Charlotte earn between $102,650 and $176,110.
- $39K10th
- $103K25th
- $157KMedian
- $176K75th
- $210K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $142,900 | $11,908 | $68.70 |
| Median | $157,210 | $13,101 | $75.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $102,650 | $8,554 | $49.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $176,110 | $14,676 | $84.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Charlotte vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Optometrists in Charlotte earn 11% less than the North Carolina average ($161,030) and about the same as the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $142,900 | $157,210 | $39,280 | $209,790 | 260 |
| North Carolina | $161,030 | $161,560 | $94,320 | $215,340 | 1,140 |
| 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 Charlotte
On the average salary of $142,900, a single filer in Charlotte takes home about $103,745 a year, or $8,645 a month and $3,990 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $103,745 | $8,645 |
| Working in SC | $102,459 | $8,538 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charlotte a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlotte area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $142,900 buys what about $146,793 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlotte ($49,990). A typical home costs $390,321, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other North Carolina cities
Charlotte ranks 6th of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Wilmington pays the most ($204,680).
- Wilmington$204,680
- Raleigh$164,790
- Durham$164,510
- Asheville$162,950
- Winston-Salem$157,630
- Charlotte$142,900
- Hickory$142,330
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 Charlotte: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Charlotte?
$68.70 an hour on average, and $75.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Charlotte?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $102,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Charlotte?
About $103,745 a year ($8,645 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $142,900.
Do optometrists earn more in Charlotte 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (16740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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