Optometrist Salary in Michigan (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Optometrists in Michigan, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Michigan Median
$135,650
per year
Hourly Rate
$65.22
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $136,570
State Rank
#23 of 51
1,410 employed here

How much does an Optometrist make in Michigan?

An Optometrist working in Michigan earns a median salary of $135,650 per year, or about $65.22 per hour. That is 1% below the national median of $136,570 for this occupation.

Within Michigan, entry-level pay starts around $98,110 while the top 10% make $213,850 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $125,000 and $161,970 a year.

Optometrist salary range in Michigan

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$98,110$47.17
25th percentile (early career)$125,000$60.10
50th percentile (median)$135,650$65.22
75th percentile (experienced)$161,970$77.87
90th percentile (top earners)$213,850$102.81

How Michigan compares

Michigan ranks 23rd out of 51 states and territories for Optometrist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Alaska$170,310
2Maryland$165,840
3North Carolina$161,560
4Delaware$161,270
5New York$161,140

Working as an Optometrist in Michigan

Nationally, about 43,000 people work as Optometrists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare Michigan pay ($135,650) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Optometrist make in Michigan?
The median Optometrist salary in Michigan is $135,650 per year, or about $65.22 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $98,110 at the entry level to $213,850 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Michigan pay compare to the national average?
Michigan pays Optometrists about 1% less than the national median of $136,570. Michigan ranks 23rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Michigan a good state for Optometrists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $135,650 a year. About 1,410 Optometrists are employed in Michigan. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Michigan?
The highest-paying occupations in Michigan include Radiologist ($485,920), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($428,570), Cardiologist ($419,030), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Optometrist salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.