Optometrist salary
From 173 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 29-1041: Optometrists
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 40% of Optometrist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Visionworks of America. 17 filings (10% of the total), median $170,560.
- Median up 25% since FY2020. From $122,000 in FY2020 to $152,859 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Optometrist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 173 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Optometrist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 29-1041, Optometrists). The median base salary is $150,000, 22% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $133,000 and $169,000. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 40% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (18), and Visionworks of America is the employer that files the most (17).
Is your Optometrist offer competitive?
Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Optometrist jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
Enter a salary to see where it falls.
Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Optometrist
Employers with the most Optometrist filings. Bar: share of all Optometrist filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 40% of filings
Mid-level · 39% of filings
Senior · 12% of filings
Expert · 9% of filings
Level medians mix different jobs, so a higher level can show a lower median. Within one job, pay rises with level.
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $152,440 | 67 |
| Level II · Qualified | $147,000 | 66 |
| Level III · Experienced | $145,000 | 21 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $176,467 | 15 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Optometrist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 2 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $157,500 | 18 |
| Miami, FL | $130,000 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Optometrist does
Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.
Typical tasks
- Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
- Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
- Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
- Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
- Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
- Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Optometrists (29-1041.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Optometrists), the median annual wage was $136,570 in May 2025, with 42,790 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $150,000, 10% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $111,114 | $74,870 |
| 25th percentile | $133,000 | $109,400 |
| Median | $150,000 | $136,570 |
| 75th percentile | $169,000 | $165,120 |
| 90th percentile | $180,399 | $202,180 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $111,114 |
| 25th | $133,000 |
| 50th (median) | $150,000 |
| 75th | $169,000 |
| 90th | $180,399 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $122,000 | $108,040 | $134,100 | 59 |
| FY2021 | $130,000 | $111,100 | $140,689 | 74 |
| FY2022 | $122,502 | $100,000 | $140,000 | 78 |
| FY2023 | $123,406 | $96,096 | $150,000 | 77 |
| FY2024 | $135,000 | $106,142 | $155,000 | 79 |
| FY2025 | $150,000 | $125,000 | $167,000 | 89 |
| FY2026 | $152,859 | $134,104 | $170,920 | 84 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Optometrist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Optometrist jobs is $150,000 (173 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $133,000 and $169,000.
What does an entry-level Optometrist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $152,440. Level I accounts for 40% of Optometrist filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Optometrists?
Visionworks of America (17), Gulfview Vision Associates, P.A. (16) and National Vision (14) filed the most Optometrist LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Optometrists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($150,000) is 10% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($136,570, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.