Optometrists pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $355,440 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Wilmington earn between $134,790 and $221,340.
- $110K10th
- $135K25th
- $164KMedian
- $221K75th
- $355K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $204,680 | $17,057 | $98.40 |
| Median | $163,800 | $13,650 | $78.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $134,790 | $11,232 | $64.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $221,340 | $18,445 | $106.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Wilmington
On the average salary of $204,680, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $144,716 a year, or $12,060 a month and $5,566 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 Wilmington a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $204,680 buys what about $212,275 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 1st of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Wilmington?
$98.41 an hour on average, and $78.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $109,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $134,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $144,716 a year ($12,060 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $204,680.
Do optometrists earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 43% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.2%.
- 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 2.29, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.