Optometrist Salary in North Carolina
Median annual pay in North Carolina
$161,560
$77.67/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in North Carolina
$171,278
Regional Price Parity: 94.326 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($136,570): +$24,990 (+18.3%)
North Carolina ranks 3rd of 51 states by median pay, and 1st of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $94,320 | $45.35 |
| 25th percentile | $123,250 | $59.25 |
| Median | $161,560 | $77.67 |
| 75th percentile | $193,790 | $93.17 |
| 90th percentile | $215,340 | $103.53 |
Employment
- Employment in North Carolina
- 1,140
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in North Carolina
- $161,560
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $136,570
- Difference
- +$24,990 (+18.3%)
Cost of living
$161,560 ÷ 94.326 × 100 = $171,278
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | ||
| 1st | $170,310 | $166,385 2nd |
| Maryland | ||
| 2nd | $165,840 | $158,005 7th |
| North Carolina This page | ||
| 3rd | $161,560 | $171,278 1st |
| Delaware | ||
| 4th | $161,270 | $161,580 4th |
| New York | ||
| 5th | $161,140 | $149,313 11th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- General Internal Medicine Physician salary in the U.S.
$256,560/year U.S.
- Dermatologist salary in North Carolina
$367,350/year North Carolina
- Physicians, All Other salary in North Carolina
$260,330/year North Carolina
- Neurologist salary in North Carolina
$325,550/year North Carolina
- Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric salary in North Carolina
$323,630/year North Carolina
- Ophthalmic Medical Technician salary in the U.S.
$45,570/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +9.5%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Doctoral or professional degree
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Optometrist salary in nearby places
- Optometrist salary in Georgia
$128,830/year Georgia
- Optometrist salary in South Carolina
$145,950/year South Carolina
- Optometrist salary in Tennessee
$134,170/year Tennessee
- Optometrist salary in Virginia
$131,570/year Virginia
- Optometrist salary in the U.S.
$136,570/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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