Optometrists pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $102,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $196,680 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Madison earn between $122,490 and $164,310.
- $102K10th
- $122K25th
- $128KMedian
- $164K75th
- $197K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $142,710 | $11,892 | $68.61 |
| Median | $128,220 | $10,685 | $61.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $122,490 | $10,208 | $58.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,310 | $13,692 | $79.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Optometrists in Madison earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($142,800) and about the same as the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $142,710 | $128,220 | $102,200 | $196,680 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $142,800 | $139,720 | $75,390 | $203,670 | 790 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $142,710, a single filer in Madison takes home about $101,885 a year, or $8,490 a month and $3,919 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $142,710 buys what about $146,690 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 4th of 6 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; La Crosse pays the most ($168,910).
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Optometrists salary in Madison: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Madison?
$68.61 an hour on average, and $61.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $102,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $122,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Madison?
About $101,885 a year ($8,490 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $142,710.
Do optometrists earn more in Madison 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.4%.
- 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 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.