Optometrists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $193,300 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Hickory earn between $136,920 and $136,920.
- $109K10th
- $137K25th
- $137KMedian
- $137K75th
- $193K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $142,330 | $11,861 | $68.43 |
| Median | $136,920 | $11,410 | $65.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $136,920 | $11,410 | $65.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,920 | $11,410 | $65.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Optometrists in Hickory earn 12% 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 +0% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $142,330 | $136,920 | $109,150 | $193,300 | 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $142,330, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $103,378 a year, or $8,615 a month and $3,976 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $142,330 buys what about $160,850 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 7th 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 Hickory: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Hickory?
$68.43 an hour on average, and $65.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $136,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $103,378 a year ($8,615 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $142,330.
Do optometrists earn more in Hickory 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). 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 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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