Optometrists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $93,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $186,250 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Chicago earn between $132,090 and $162,590.
- $93K10th
- $132K25th
- $146KMedian
- $163K75th
- $186K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,330 | $12,028 | $69.39 |
| Median | $145,630 | $12,136 | $70.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $132,090 | $11,008 | $63.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $162,590 | $13,549 | $78.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Optometrists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($143,720) and about the same as the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $144,330 | $145,630 | $93,350 | $186,250 | 1,160 |
| Illinois | $143,720 | $145,620 | $93,350 | $190,620 | 1,540 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $144,330, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $102,912 a year, or $8,576 a month and $3,958 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $105,616 | $8,801 |
| Working in IL | $102,912 | $8,576 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $144,330 buys what about $139,321 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($155,720).
- Peoria$155,720
- Chicago$144,330
- Bloomington$133,450
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 Chicago: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Chicago?
$69.39 an hour on average, and $70.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $93,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $132,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $102,912 a year ($8,576 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,330.
Do optometrists earn more in Chicago 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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