Optometrist Salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY: $139,737 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earns a median $139,737/year (≈ $67.18/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Louisville/Jefferson County's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.1), that paycheck buys what $150,135 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.3% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Salaries for optometrists in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, are reflective of the region's unique employment structure, with practice ownership, employed associates, and retail chains shaping the landscape. The median annual compensation for an optometrist stands at $139,737, just slightly below the national median of $140,612 for 2026. The salary range spans from $99,223 at the lower end to $203,171 for the top earners, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. This overview highlights a competitive environment for optometrists, where the choice of practice model significantly influences earning potential, making it essential for professionals to consider the implications of their employment settings within the local market context.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $99,223 | $47.70 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $131,398 | $63.18 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $139,737 | $67.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $164,407 | $79.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $203,171 | $97.68 |
Median Salary Position
0.62% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Louisville/Jefferson County
In Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $103,948 (2026 est.). At $139,737, the local median is 0.62% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Louisville/Jefferson County: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Louisville/Jefferson County Optometrist Pay Compares
Louisville/Jefferson County median: $139,737/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Louisville/Jefferson County Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $125,550 | +11.30% more |
| National Average | $140,612 | -0.62% less |
Optometrists in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earn a median of $139,737 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.62% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 11.30% above the Kentucky state average of $125,550.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Louisville/Jefferson County has a cost of living 6.93% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY has a cost-of-living index of 93.074 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $139,737 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $150,135 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.44% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$88,760
2025 BLS Actual
$135,720
2026 Current Est.
$139,737
2019–2027 Growth
+62.1%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Louisville/Jefferson County (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $101,450 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,010 | Actual |
| 2022 | $126,020 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,690 | Actual |
| 2024 | $132,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $135,720 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $139,737 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $143,874 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Louisville/Jefferson County metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 52.9% from $88,760 (2019) to $135,720 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $143,874 by 2027 — a total increase of $55,114 (62.09%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Louisville/Jefferson County 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) | $99,223 – $131,398 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $131,398 – $139,737 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $139,737 – $164,407 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $164,407 – $203,171 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Louisville/Jefferson County
Louisville/Jefferson County's job market supports approximately 230 optometrists, illustrating a robust demand for eye care specialists. With a cost-of-living index of 93.074—below the national average—this area allows optometrists to enjoy a relatively favorable standard of living. Among local employers, private optometry practices often offer higher pay than retail optical chains like LensCrafters or Visionworks, while working alongside ophthalmologists in OD/MD models may also yield increased compensation due to shared surgical revenue. Factors such as practice ownership and advanced training in ocular disease can lead to significant pay variances. To maximize earnings, optometrists in this market should consider specialized residencies, negotiating contracts that favor their expertise, and exploring opportunities within independent practice models or higher-paying institutional settings.
More salary data for Louisville/Jefferson County, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY in 2026?
Is Louisville/Jefferson County, KY a good place to work as a optometrist?
Can optometrists make $100K in Louisville/Jefferson County?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted optometrist salary in Louisville/Jefferson County?
How much does a optometrist make per hour in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Kentucky
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 $135,720 for optometristsin the Louisville/Jefferson County 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, 7-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