Optometrists pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,110 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Salem earn between $130,390 and $144,800.
- $105K10th
- $130K25th
- $135KMedian
- $145K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,890 | $11,324 | $65.33 |
| Median | $134,590 | $11,216 | $64.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $130,390 | $10,866 | $62.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $144,800 | $12,067 | $69.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Salem
On the average salary of $135,890, a single filer in Salem takes home about $93,058 a year, or $7,755 a month and $3,579 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $135,890 buys what about $131,106 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 1st of 4 Oregon 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
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Optometrists salary in Salem: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Salem?
$65.33 an hour on average, and $64.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $130,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Salem?
About $93,058 a year ($7,755 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,890. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do optometrists earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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