Best cities for an optometrist
The best cities for optometrists are Greensboro, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for optometrists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for optometrists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an optometrist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for optometrists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for optometrists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an optometrist. While the absolute best city for optometrists is Greensboro, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for optometrists in 2024.
If you're looking for an optometrist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for optometrists in 2025
1. Greensboro, NC
Optometrist jobs in GreensboroTotal optometrist jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $212,018 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $387,000 Location quotient: 1.34 2. Winston-Salem, NC
Optometrist jobs in Winston-SalemTotal optometrist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $212,632 Lowest 10 percent warn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $388,000 Location quotient: 0.65 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Optometrist jobs in Fort WayneTotal optometrist jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $174,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $92,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $329,000 Location quotient: 1.62 4. Wichita, KS
Optometrist jobs in WichitaTotal optometrist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $169,696 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $325,000 Location quotient: 1.06 5. Louisville, KY
Optometrist jobs in LouisvilleTotal optometrist jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $182,742 Lowest 10 percent warn: $97,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $341,000 Location quotient: 0.47 6. Lincoln, NE
Optometrist jobs in LincolnTotal optometrist jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $202,236 Lowest 10 percent warn: $103,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $395,000 Location quotient: 0.46 7. Omaha, NE
Optometrist jobs in OmahaTotal optometrist jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $204,600 Lowest 10 percent warn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $400,000 Location quotient: 0.44 8. Cincinnati, OH
Optometrist jobs in CincinnatiTotal optometrist jobs: 38 Average annual salary: $173,855 Lowest 10 percent warn: $93,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $324,000 Location quotient: 0.69 9. Hempstead, NY
Optometrist jobs in HempsteadTotal optometrist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $184,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $340,000 Location quotient: 1.18 10. Buffalo, NY
Optometrist jobs in BuffaloTotal optometrist jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $188,041 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $354,000 Location quotient: 0.73
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Best cities for optometrists
- Greensboro, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Wichita, KS
- Louisville, KY
- Lincoln, NE
- Omaha, NE
- Cincinnati, OH
- Hempstead, NY
- Buffalo, NY
Detailed list of the best cities for an optometrist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro, NC | $212,018 | $116,000 | 287,027 | 26 |
| 2 | Winston-Salem, NC | $212,632 | $116,000 | 242,203 | 8 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $174,352 | $92,000 | 264,488 | 24 |
| 4 | Wichita, KS | $169,696 | $88,000 | 389,902 | 23 |
| 5 | Louisville, KY | $182,742 | $97,000 | 597,337 | 21 |
| 6 | Lincoln, NE | $202,236 | $103,000 | 280,364 | 13 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $204,600 | $104,000 | 446,970 | 24 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $173,855 | $93,000 | 298,800 | 38 |
| 9 | Hempstead, NY | $184,295 | $99,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 10 | Buffalo, NY | $188,041 | $99,000 | 256,902 | 19 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $173,513 | $91,000 | 278,508 | 6 |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | $158,610 | $85,000 | 391,495 | 17 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $171,087 | $91,000 | 385,809 | 19 |
| 14 | Lubbock, TX | $155,159 | $82,000 | 252,506 | 8 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $185,385 | $96,000 | 595,047 | 16 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $166,925 | $90,000 | 880,619 | 46 |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $153,824 | $82,000 | 484,587 | 24 |
| 18 | Glendale, AZ | $153,615 | $81,000 | 245,895 | 13 |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $157,644 | $84,000 | 392,772 | 10 |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $205,910 | $97,000 | 298,192 | 4 |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $182,339 | $98,000 | 303,625 | 23 |
| 22 | Kansas City, MO | $168,924 | $87,000 | 481,420 | 20 |
| 23 | Raleigh, NC | $210,155 | $115,000 | 458,880 | 15 |
| 24 | Lexington, KY | $181,973 | $97,000 | 318,449 | 4 |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA | $178,368 | $96,000 | 1,567,872 | 38 |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | $212,786 | $108,000 | 413,651 | 17 |
| 27 | Charlotte, NC | $211,226 | $115,000 | 842,051 | 22 |
| 28 | Chicago, IL | $185,070 | $96,000 | 2,704,958 | 64 |
| 29 | Hialeah, FL | $151,385 | $80,000 | 236,387 | 6 |
| 30 | Tucson, AZ | $152,409 | $81,000 | 530,706 | 21 |
| 31 | Saint Paul, MN | $212,567 | $107,000 | 302,398 | 8 |
| 32 | Aurora, CO | $170,498 | $87,000 | 361,710 | 16 |
| 33 | Fresno, CA | $154,813 | $81,000 | 522,053 | 24 |
| 34 | El Paso, TX | $147,087 | $78,000 | 683,080 | 18 |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | $148,599 | $79,000 | 660,388 | 18 |
| 36 | Henderson, NV | $148,081 | $78,000 | 292,969 | 6 |
| 37 | Corpus Christi, TX | $146,609 | $78,000 | 325,733 | 6 |
| 38 | Laredo, TX | $144,639 | $77,000 | 257,156 | 6 |
| 39 | Indianapolis, IN | $174,330 | $92,000 | 855,164 | 17 |
| 40 | Columbus, OH | $172,641 | $92,000 | 860,090 | 17 |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $164,797 | $90,000 | 452,602 | 13 |
| 42 | Orlando, FL | $161,025 | $87,000 | 277,173 | 19 |
| 43 | Stockton, CA | $155,563 | $82,000 | 307,072 | 9 |
| 44 | Reno, NV | $150,092 | $78,000 | 245,255 | 8 |
| 45 | Durham, NC | $210,822 | $115,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 46 | Madison, WI | $186,593 | $96,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $166,924 | $86,000 | 465,101 | 27 |
| 48 | Baltimore, MD | $180,291 | $98,000 | 614,664 | 32 |
| 49 | Memphis, TN | $143,461 | $76,000 | 652,717 | 16 |
| 50 | New York, NY | $184,503 | $99,000 | 8,537,673 | 180 |
Highest paying cities for optometrists
| Rank | City | Avg. optometrist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro, NC | $212,018 |
| 2 | Rochester, MN | $209,303 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $204,600 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $202,475 |
| 5 | Green Bay, WI | $187,352 |
| 6 | Rochester, NY | $187,094 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $185,070 |
| 8 | Washington, MI | $183,423 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh, PA | $182,339 |
| 10 | Richmond, KY | $181,071 |
| 11 | Columbia, MD | $180,358 |
| 12 | Kansas City, KS | $177,765 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $175,555 |
| 14 | Lafayette, IN | $175,236 |
| 15 | Dayton, OH | $173,956 |
| 16 | Lafayette, CO | $171,057 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $170,781 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $166,925 |
| 19 | Richmond, VA | $166,559 |
| 20 | Gainesville, GA | $164,499 |
Optometrist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025