Optometrists pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $196,600 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Birmingham earn between $133,120 and $170,650.
- $74K10th
- $133K25th
- $163KMedian
- $171K75th
- $197K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $150,310 | $12,526 | $72.26 |
| Median | $162,890 | $13,574 | $78.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $133,120 | $11,093 | $64.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $170,650 | $14,221 | $82.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $150,310, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $107,968 a year, or $8,997 a month and $4,153 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $150,310 buys what about $164,015 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 1.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 1st of 3 Alabama metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Birmingham$150,310
- Huntsville$148,490
- Daphne$141,540
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 Birmingham: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Birmingham?
$72.26 an hour on average, and $78.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $133,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $107,968 a year ($8,997 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $150,310. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do optometrists earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($143,182).
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 Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.8%.
- 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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