Optometrists pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $173,240 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Baltimore earn between $64,720 and $169,230.
- $49K10th
- $65K25th
- $144KMedian
- $169K75th
- $173K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,990 | $10,416 | $60.09 |
| Median | $144,270 | $12,022 | $69.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,720 | $5,393 | $31.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,230 | $14,102 | $81.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Optometrists in Baltimore earn 16% less than the Maryland average ($148,910) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $124,990 | $144,270 | $49,260 | $173,240 | 330 |
| Maryland | $148,910 | $165,840 | $50,560 | $215,420 | 780 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $124,990, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $90,917 a year, or $7,576 a month and $3,497 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $124,990 buys what about $119,623 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in nearby metro areas
- York, PA$135,580
- Lancaster, PA$135,250
- Dover, DE$155,270
- Washington, DC$151,330
- Harrisburg, PA$137,230
- Philadelphia, PA$148,970
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Baltimore?
$60.09 an hour on average, and $69.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $90,917 a year ($7,576 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,990. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do optometrists earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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