Optometrist Salary in Columbus, GA: $125,436 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Columbus, GA earns a median $125,436/year (≈ $60.30/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Columbus's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $140,472 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.6% below the Georgia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Columbus, Georgia, optometrists achieve a median annual salary of $125,436 according to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. The compensation ranges significantly, with figures from $80,700 at the lower end (10th percentile) to as high as $183,598 at the top (90th percentile). This salary potential reflects the state's expanded scope of practice, which includes glaucoma management, oral medications, and laser procedures, directly influencing the overall compensation landscape. With a strong emphasis on both clinical expertise and patient management, the financial rewards in this field highlight the demand for trained optometrists in Columbus.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $80,700 | $38.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $108,159 | $51.99 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $125,436 | $60.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $138,389 | $66.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $183,598 | $88.27 |
Median Salary Position
10.79% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbus
In Columbus, GA, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $102,898 (2026 est.). At $125,436, the local median is 10.79% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbus: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Columbus Optometrist Pay Compares
Columbus median: $125,436/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbus Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Average | $134,300 | -6.60% less |
| National Average | $140,612 | -10.79% less |
Optometrists in Columbus, GA earn a median of $125,436 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.79% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 6.60% below the Georgia state average of $134,300.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbus has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbus, GA has a cost-of-living index of 89.296 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $125,436 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $140,472 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$102,811
2025 BLS Actual
$121,830
2026 Current Est.
$125,436
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Columbus (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $102,811 | Actual |
| 2020 | $105,309 | Actual |
| 2021 | $110,884 | Actual |
| 2022 | $112,035 | Actual |
| 2023 | $117,628 | Actual |
| 2024 | $122,173 | Actual |
| 2025 | $121,830 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $125,436 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $129,149 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbus metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $102,811 (2019) to $121,830 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $129,149 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,338 (25.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbus metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $80,700 – $108,159 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $108,159 – $125,436 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $125,436 – $138,389 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $138,389 – $183,598 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Columbus
In this market, 30 optometrists are currently employed, suggesting a competitive job environment that is supported by a favorable cost of living index of 89.296. This lower index provides a more advantageous purchasing power compared to many other regions, making the optometrist pay in Columbus GA quite appealing. The most lucrative positions are often found in private practices, particularly those that adopt an OD/MD collaborative model, where optometrists can share in surgical referral revenue. Salary differentials are driven by factors such as practice ownership, level of residency training—especially in ocular disease—and the ongoing trend of private equity acquisitions affecting former independent practices. Those aiming to maximize earnings should actively seek residencies, consider diverse practice settings, and explore opportunities within multi-disciplinary centers or partnerships with ophthalmologists, aligning their career paths with the evolving scope and requirements of optometry in Columbus.
More salary data for Columbus, GA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Patel, OD
Career Analyst
Aisha Patel has 10 years of experience in optometry. She specializes in pediatric vision care. Aisha works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $121,830 for optometristsin the Columbus metropolitan area. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for optometrists (SOC 29-1041).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, OD, a licensed optometrist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov