How Much Does a Optometrist Make in the United States in 2026? (Hourly & After-Tax Salary)
Median Annual & Hourly Wage in the United States
$134,990/yr ($64.90/hr · $103,019 After-Tax)
Entry-Level (25th Pct)$105,290 ($50.62/hr)
Experienced (90th Pct)$182,250 ($87.62/hr)
Bi-Weekly Net Paycheck$3,962.26
Overtime Rate (1.5x)$97.35/hr
Gross vs. Net After-Tax Pay by Experience Level (2026)
| Level | Hourly | Gross Annual | Federal + FICA + State Tax | Net Take-Home | Bi-Weekly Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $50.62/hr | $105,290 | −$22,832.49 | $82,457.51 | $3,171.44 |
| Median (Mid-Career) | $64.90/hr | $134,990 | −$31,971.34 | $103,018.66 | $3,962.26 |
| Senior / Top 10% | $87.62/hr | $182,250 | −$46,547.83 | $135,702.17 | $5,219.31 |
Compare Wage Across All 50 U.S. States
Texas ($63.60/hr)California ($76.58/hr)Florida ($61.66/hr)New York ($75.28/hr)Illinois ($66.85/hr)Arizona ($62.95/hr)New Jersey ($72.69/hr)Georgia ($62.30/hr)North Carolina ($61.66/hr)Washington ($74.64/hr)Pennsylvania ($64.25/hr)Ohio ($61.01/hr)Nevada ($63.60/hr)Colorado ($68.79/hr)Virginia ($68.15/hr)Massachusetts ($75.93/hr)Michigan ($62.30/hr)Tennessee ($59.71/hr)Indiana ($60.36/hr)Maryland ($70.09/hr)Minnesota ($67.50/hr)Missouri ($59.71/hr)Wisconsin ($62.95/hr)Oregon ($68.15/hr)Connecticut ($72.04/hr)Utah ($62.95/hr)South Carolina ($59.06/hr)Alabama ($57.11/hr)Louisiana ($57.76/hr)Kentucky ($57.76/hr)Oklahoma ($57.76/hr)Kansas ($59.71/hr)Iowa ($60.36/hr)New Mexico ($59.71/hr)Arkansas ($56.46/hr)Mississippi ($55.17/hr)Nebraska ($61.01/hr)Idaho ($60.36/hr)Hawaii ($70.09/hr)New Hampshire ($66.85/hr)Maine ($61.66/hr)Rhode Island ($66.20/hr)Montana ($59.71/hr)Delaware ($65.55/hr)South Dakota ($59.06/hr)North Dakota ($61.66/hr)Alaska ($70.74/hr)Vermont ($63.60/hr)West Virginia ($55.81/hr)Wyoming ($61.66/hr)