Optometrists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,930 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Knoxville earn between $77,790 and $161,750.
- $48K10th
- $78K25th
- $125KMedian
- $162K75th
- $165K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $116,860 | $9,738 | $56.18 |
| Median | $125,090 | $10,424 | $60.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,790 | $6,482 | $37.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,750 | $13,479 | $77.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Optometrists in Knoxville earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($120,920) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $116,860 | $125,090 | $47,830 | $164,930 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $120,920 | $134,170 | $47,630 | $167,420 | 660 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $116,860, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $91,041 a year, or $7,587 a month and $3,502 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $116,860 buys what about $126,241 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Kingsport pays the most ($141,560).
- Kingsport$141,560
- Clarksville$124,270
- Nashville$122,420
- Chattanooga$118,960
- Memphis$118,450
- Knoxville$116,860
- Johnson City$109,320
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Knoxville?
$56.18 an hour on average, and $60.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $91,041 a year ($7,587 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $116,860. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do optometrists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- 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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