Optometrist Salary in Charlotte, NC: $161,863 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Charlotte, NC earns a median $161,863/year (≈ $77.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Charlotte's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $166,273 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.7% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, optometrists in Charlotte, North Carolina, project a median annual salary of $161,863, significantly above the national average for the profession. The salary range varies widely, from $40,443 at the 10th percentile to $216,000 at the 90th percentile, reflecting diverse practice settings and expertise levels. Data derived from official BLS OEWS surveys highlights the local market, where the combination of traditional optometric care with surgical co-management revenue streams alongside ophthalmologists enhances compensation potential for many practitioners. Such arrangements are a growing trend within the city, effectively boosting overall earnings in the competitive Charlotte job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,443 | $19.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $105,688 | $50.81 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $161,863 | $77.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $181,323 | $87.18 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $216,000 | $103.85 |
Median Salary Position
15.11% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlotte
In Charlotte, NC, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $175,557 (2026 est.). At $161,863, the local median is 15.11% above the national median of $140,612.
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At 40 hours/week in Charlotte: You'd be above the median
How Charlotte Optometrist Pay Compares
Charlotte median: $161,863/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlotte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $168,082 | -3.70% less |
| National Average | $140,612 | +15.11% more |
Optometrists in Charlotte, NC earn a median of $161,863 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.11% higher than the national median of $140,612 and 3.70% below the North Carolina state average of $168,082.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlotte has a cost of living 2.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlotte, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.348 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $161,863 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $166,273 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$122,600
2025 BLS Actual
$157,210
2026 Current Est.
$161,863
2019–2027 Growth
+35.9%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Charlotte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $122,600 | Actual |
| 2020 | $129,640 | Actual |
| 2021 | $130,070 | Actual |
| 2022 | $136,460 | Actual |
| 2023 | $151,170 | Actual |
| 2024 | $154,700 | Actual |
| 2025 | $157,210 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $161,863 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $166,655 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlotte metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 28.2% from $122,600 (2019) to $157,210 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $166,655 by 2027 — a total increase of $44,055 (35.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlotte 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) | $40,443 – $105,688 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $105,688 – $161,863 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $161,863 – $181,323 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $181,323 – $216,000 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Charlotte
The Charlotte area employs approximately 260 optometrists, a positive indicator of demand for eye care professionals in this urban center. The cost of living index stands at 97.348, suggesting that living expenses are lower than the national average, thus allowing for a greater purchasing power for optometrists in the region. Among various employers, ophthalmology practices tend to offer the highest compensation, especially for those engaged in the OD/MD model that benefits from surgical referral revenue. Factors contributing to the disparity in pay include practice ownership equity, the choice between retail optical chains and private practice, and the added benefits of residency training in ocular disease. To maximize pay in this competitive landscape, optometrists may benefit from pursuing additional residency training, exploring practice ownership opportunities, or aligning with high-revenue ophthalmology practices that can provide lucrative co-management arrangements.
More salary data for Charlotte, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can optometrists make $100K in Charlotte?
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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 $157,210 for optometristsin the Charlotte 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