Tennessee Median
$134,170
per year
Hourly Rate
$64.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $136,570
State Rank
#30 of 51
660 employed here
How much does an Optometrist make in Tennessee?
An Optometrist working in Tennessee earns a median salary of $134,170 per year, or about $64.50 per hour. That is 2% below the national median of $136,570 for this occupation.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $47,630 while the top 10% make $167,420 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,510 and $160,150 a year.
Optometrist salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,630 | $22.90 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $63,510 | $30.53 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $134,170 | $64.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $160,150 | $77.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,420 | $80.49 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 30th out of 51 states and territories for Optometrist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Optometrist salary in other states
Alaska $170,310Maryland $165,840North Carolina $161,560Delaware $161,270New York $161,140New Jersey $159,040Minnesota $158,700Washington $157,560Hawaii $154,620Maine $154,110Colorado $152,000Massachusetts $151,730Florida $151,670Connecticut $150,340South Carolina $145,950Illinois $145,620Alabama $145,090New Mexico $144,660Wisconsin $139,720Kansas $138,580Vermont $137,290California $136,300Michigan $135,650Nevada $135,650Indiana $135,500Pennsylvania $135,400Ohio $134,850District of Columbia $134,840Rhode Island $134,520Missouri $133,810North Dakota $132,110Oregon $132,020Virginia $131,570Kentucky $128,860Georgia $128,830Texas $126,000New Hampshire $125,560Iowa $125,380Nebraska $125,040Arkansas $124,470Arizona $122,250Utah $119,070Louisiana $118,060West Virginia $118,010Wyoming $111,400Mississippi $108,070Montana $104,280Idaho $103,390South Dakota $102,320Oklahoma $97,350
Working as an Optometrist in Tennessee
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 Tennessee pay ($134,170) 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 Tennessee?
The median Optometrist salary in Tennessee is $134,170 per year, or about $64.50 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,630 at the entry level to $167,420 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Optometrists about 2% less than the national median of $136,570. Tennessee ranks 30th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Optometrists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $134,170 a year. About 660 Optometrists are employed in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), 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.