Optometrists pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $169,070 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Tucson earn between $101,460 and $159,530.
- $98K10th
- $101K25th
- $158KMedian
- $160K75th
- $169K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,750 | $12,062 | $69.59 |
| Median | $157,650 | $13,138 | $75.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,460 | $8,455 | $48.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,530 | $13,294 | $76.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Optometrists in Tucson earn 7% more than the Arizona average ($135,280) and about the same as the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $144,750 | $157,650 | $97,750 | $169,070 | 80 |
| Arizona | $135,280 | $122,250 | $99,570 | $171,490 | 1,080 |
| United States | $141,550 | $136,570 | $74,870 | $202,180 | 42,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Tucson
On the average salary of $144,750, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $106,978 a year, or $8,915 a month and $4,115 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $144,750 buys what about $149,387 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 1st of 2 Arizona metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Tucson$144,750
- Phoenix$133,790
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 Tucson: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Tucson?
$69.59 an hour on average, and $75.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Tucson?
About $106,978 a year ($8,915 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,750.
Do optometrists earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($141,550).
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 Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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