Optometrists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $224,040 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Washington earn between $98,490 and $201,810.
- $54K10th
- $98K25th
- $155KMedian
- $202K75th
- $224K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $151,330 | $12,611 | $72.75 |
| Median | $154,690 | $12,891 | $74.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,490 | $8,208 | $47.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $201,810 | $16,818 | $97.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $151,330, a single filer in Washington takes home about $104,806 a year, or $8,734 a month and $4,031 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $108,658 | $9,055 |
| Working in MD | $107,546 | $8,962 |
| Working in VA | $106,813 | $8,901 |
| Working in DC | $104,806 | $8,734 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $151,330 buys what about $138,983 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$124,990
- York, PA$135,580
- Richmond, VA$145,700
- Harrisburg, PA$137,230
- Lancaster, PA$135,250
- Dover, DE$155,270
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 Washington: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Washington?
$72.76 an hour on average, and $74.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Washington?
About $104,806 a year ($8,734 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $151,330.
Do optometrists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- 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 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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