Optometrists pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $121,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $227,540 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Seattle earn between $134,630 and $200,830.
- $121K10th
- $135K25th
- $168KMedian
- $201K75th
- $228K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $171,750 | $14,312 | $82.57 |
| Median | $167,810 | $13,984 | $80.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $134,630 | $11,219 | $64.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $200,830 | $16,736 | $96.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Optometrists in Seattle earn 8% more than the Washington average ($159,380) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $171,750 | $167,810 | $121,350 | $227,540 | 420 |
| Washington | $159,380 | $157,560 | $103,880 | $217,900 | 760 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $171,750, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $128,657 a year, or $10,721 a month and $4,948 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $171,750 buys what about $154,545 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 4 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Seattle: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Seattle?
$82.57 an hour on average, and $80.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $121,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $134,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Seattle?
About $128,657 a year ($10,721 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $171,750. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do optometrists earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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