Optometrists pay range in Lakeland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,750 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Lakeland earn between $124,040 and $157,430.
- $101K10th
- $124K25th
- $157KMedian
- $157K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $151,280 | $12,607 | $72.73 |
| Median | $157,140 | $13,095 | $75.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $124,040 | $10,337 | $59.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,430 | $13,119 | $75.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Lakeland vs. Florida and the U.S.
Optometrists in Lakeland earn 6% more than the Florida average ($143,020) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | $151,280 | $157,140 | $100,830 | $208,750 | 120 |
| Florida | $143,020 | $151,670 | $62,490 | $196,210 | 2,350 |
| 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 Lakeland
On the average salary of $151,280, a single filer in Lakeland takes home about $114,666 a year, or $9,555 a month and $4,410 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Lakeland a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lakeland area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $151,280 buys what about $155,732 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Lakeland ($46,140). A typical home costs $298,816, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Florida cities
Lakeland ranks 3rd of 11 Florida metro areas for this job; Sarasota pays the most ($158,550).
- Sarasota$158,550
- Jacksonville$154,490
- Lakeland$151,280
- Orlando$148,670
- Fort Myers$146,920
- Tampa$146,810
- Ocala$145,750
- Deltona$144,570
- Pensacola$136,960
- Miami$134,470
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 Lakeland: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Lakeland?
$72.73 an hour on average, and $75.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Lakeland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $124,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Lakeland?
About $114,666 a year ($9,555 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $151,280. Florida has no state income tax.
Do optometrists earn more in Lakeland than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL (29460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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