Optometrists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $167,620 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Columbia earn between $78,420 and $163,510.
- $49K10th
- $78K25th
- $156KMedian
- $164K75th
- $168K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $130,130 | $10,844 | $62.56 |
| Median | $156,350 | $13,029 | $75.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,420 | $6,535 | $37.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $163,510 | $13,626 | $78.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Optometrists in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($129,570) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $130,130 | $156,350 | $49,030 | $167,620 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $129,570 | $145,950 | $51,740 | $172,060 | 480 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $130,130, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $94,396 a year, or $7,866 a month and $3,631 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 (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $130,130 buys what about $138,936 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($137,480).
- Charleston$137,480
- Greenville$130,610
- Columbia$130,130
- Myrtle Beach$129,270
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 Columbia: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Columbia?
$62.56 an hour on average, and $75.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $94,396 a year ($7,866 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $130,130.
Do optometrists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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