Optometrists pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $276,860 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Lexington earn between $93,580 and $175,660.
- $79K10th
- $94K25th
- $139KMedian
- $176K75th
- $277K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,780 | $12,065 | $69.61 |
| Median | $139,060 | $11,588 | $66.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,580 | $7,798 | $44.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $175,660 | $14,638 | $84.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Optometrists in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($142,710) and about the same as the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $144,780 | $139,060 | $78,920 | $276,860 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $142,710 | $128,860 | $82,240 | $254,630 | 430 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $144,780, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $101,292 a year, or $8,441 a month and $3,896 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $144,780 buys what about $155,863 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($147,250).
- Louisville$147,250
- Lexington$144,780
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 Lexington: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Lexington?
$69.61 an hour on average, and $66.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Lexington?
About $101,292 a year ($8,441 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,780. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do optometrists earn more in Lexington 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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