Optometrist salary in North Carolina
What optometrists earn in North Carolina and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$161,560$77.67 per hour
vs U.S.+18%U.S. median $136,570
Middle half earn$123,250 – $193,790Top 10%: $215,340+
Jobs1,1400.83× the U.S. concentration
Optometrist pay in North Carolina cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $157,210 | $75.58 | 260 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $163,290 | $78.51 | 240 |
| Wilmington, NC | $163,800 | $78.75 | 120 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $162,540 | $78.14 | 70 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $148,840 | $71.56 | 70 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $162,010 | $77.89 | 60 |
| Asheville, NC | $167,980 | $80.76 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $166,880 | $80.23 | 40 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $136,920 | $65.83 | 40 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $157,380 | $75.66 | 40 |
Hospitals and jobs in North Carolina
Optometrist pay in similar states
Maryland · $165,840 Delaware · $161,270 New York · $161,140 New Jersey · $159,040 Minnesota · $158,700 Washington · $157,560
Other healthcare salaries in North Carolina
Registered Nurses · $84,350 Nursing Assistants · $38,460 Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $31,240 Medical Assistants · $45,140 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $63,270 Pharmacy Technicians · $44,530 Physicians, All Other · $260,330 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $60,650 Dental Assistants · $50,380 Pharmacists · $138,860 Nurse Practitioners · $128,990 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians · $74,450
Questions
How much does an optometrist make in North Carolina?
Optometrists in North Carolina earned a median of $161,560 a year ($77.67 an hour) in May 2025, 18% more than the national median of $136,570. The middle half earned $123,250 to $193,790.
Where in North Carolina do optometrists earn the most?
Among areas in North Carolina, pay was highest in Asheville, NC at $167,980.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.