Optometrist salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Optometrists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $157,210 a year ($75.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,790 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $136,570. Pay here is 3% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $161,560. There are 0.19 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $142,900, close to the median.
Pay range for optometrists in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,280 | $18.88 |
| 25th percentile | $102,650 | $49.35 |
| Median | $157,210 | $75.58 |
| 75th percentile | $176,110 | $84.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,790 | $100.86 |
| Average (mean) | $142,900 | $68.70 |
Half of optometrists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,100.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,550.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,046.54 |
| Weekly | $3,023.27 |
| Hourly | $75.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $157,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Optometrist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $167,980 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $166,880 | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $163,800 | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $163,290 | 240 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $162,540 | 70 |
| Columbia, SC | $156,350 | 90 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $154,660 | 70 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $150,010 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $149,380 | 70 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $136,920 | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $130,390 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for optometrists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 |
| Maryland | $165,840 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 |
| Delaware | $161,270 |
| New York | $161,140 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,560 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 |
| Maine | $154,110 |
See Optometrist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Pharmacist | $150,580 | $72.40 |
| Physicians, All Other | $327,040 | $157.23 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,310 | $62.65 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,390 | $47.30 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Physician Assistant | $133,140 | $64.01 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $90,960 | $43.73 |
| Dentists, General | $189,220 | $90.97 |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,450 | $47.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $277,550 | $133.44 |
| Veterinarian | $129,080 | $62.06 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,930 | $36.03 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for optometrists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $157,210 a year, or $75.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of optometrists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $209,790 a year. The top 25% earn $176,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,280 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $102,650 or less.
How many optometrists work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 260 optometrists are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.