Optometrists pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $191,770 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Richmond earn between $119,850 and $157,870.
- $64K10th
- $120K25th
- $131KMedian
- $158K75th
- $192K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $145,700 | $12,142 | $70.05 |
| Median | $131,080 | $10,923 | $63.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $119,850 | $9,988 | $57.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,870 | $13,156 | $75.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Richmond
On the average salary of $145,700, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $103,288 a year, or $8,607 a month and $3,973 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 (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $145,700 buys what about $148,889 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 3rd of 3 Virginia metro areas for this job; Roanoke pays the most ($219,610).
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 Richmond: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Richmond?
$70.05 an hour on average, and $63.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $119,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Richmond?
About $103,288 a year ($8,607 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $145,700.
Do optometrists earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.7%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.