Optometrists pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,860 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Raleigh earn between $125,730 and $200,040.
- $100K10th
- $126K25th
- $163KMedian
- $200K75th
- $214K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,790 | $13,732 | $79.23 |
| Median | $163,290 | $13,608 | $78.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $125,730 | $10,478 | $60.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $200,040 | $16,670 | $96.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Optometrists in Raleigh 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 +20% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $164,790 | $163,290 | $100,240 | $213,860 | 240 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $164,790, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $117,834 a year, or $9,819 a month and $4,532 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 Raleigh a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $164,790 buys what about $167,884 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 2nd 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 Raleigh: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Raleigh?
$79.23 an hour on average, and $78.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $125,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $117,834 a year ($9,819 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,790.
Do optometrists earn more in Raleigh 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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