Optometrists Salary in Asheville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Asheville, NC

Median annual salary $167,980 +24.6% vs national
Median hourly $80.76
10th percentile $95,220
90th percentile $207,200
Employed locally 40
National median $134,830

Compare Optometrists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Asheville, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Optometrists
in
Asheville, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $95,220
    25th
    $125,900
    50th (median)
    $167,980
    75th
    $198,380
    90th
    $207,200

    Asheville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,236 2023 • Census ACS
    Optometrists salary vs area income 243% Median Optometrists salary is 143% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Optometrists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $176,930
    Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area $166,920
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $165,870
    Alaska $165,830
    Reno, NV $165,060
    Albuquerque, NM $165,050

    Nearby metros — Optometrists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Anchorage, AK $162,980
    Winston-Salem, NC $162,090
    Fayetteville, NC $161,820
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $159,190
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $157,750
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $155,960

    Related occupations in Asheville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $80,720
    Physicians, All Other $360,010
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $62,220
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,410
    Pharmacists $135,670
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $49,620

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Optometrists make per hour in Asheville?

    The median hourly wage for Optometrists in Asheville, NC is $80.76, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $99.62 or more per hour.

    Is Asheville above or below average for Optometrists salaries?

    The median Optometrists salary in Asheville, NC is 24.6% above the national median of $134,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Optometrists in Asheville?

    Entry-level Optometrists (10th percentile) earn around $95,220 per year in Asheville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $125,900.