Optometrists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,510 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Durham earn between $121,080 and $205,000.
- $101K10th
- $121K25th
- $167KMedian
- $205K75th
- $218K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,510 | $13,709 | $79.09 |
| Median | $166,880 | $13,907 | $80.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $121,080 | $10,090 | $58.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $205,000 | $17,083 | $98.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Optometrists in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($161,030) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $164,510 | $166,880 | $100,870 | $217,510 | 40 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $164,510, a single filer in Durham takes home about $117,653 a year, or $9,804 a month and $4,525 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $164,510 buys what about $168,604 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd 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 Durham: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Durham?
$79.09 an hour on average, and $80.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $121,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Durham?
About $117,653 a year ($9,804 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,510.
Do optometrists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 0.44, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.44).
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