Optometrists pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $168,350 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Memphis earn between $52,540 and $161,060.
- $49K10th
- $53K25th
- $129KMedian
- $161K75th
- $168K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $118,450 | $9,871 | $56.95 |
| Median | $129,080 | $10,757 | $62.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,540 | $4,378 | $25.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $161,060 | $13,422 | $77.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $118,450, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $92,160 a year, or $7,680 a month and $3,545 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $92,160 | $7,680 |
| Working in MS | $88,154 | $7,346 |
| Working in AR | $87,978 | $7,331 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $118,450 buys what about $128,500 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 5th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Kingsport pays the most ($141,560).
- Kingsport$141,560
- Clarksville$124,270
- Nashville$122,420
- Chattanooga$118,960
- Memphis$118,450
- Knoxville$116,860
- Johnson City$109,320
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 Memphis: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Memphis?
$56.95 an hour on average, and $62.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Memphis?
About $92,160 a year ($7,680 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $118,450. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do optometrists earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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