Optometrist Salary in San Juan, PR: $136,721 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in San Juan, PR earns a median $136,721/year (≈ $65.73/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Puerto Rico's price level (25% below national, BEA RPP 75.0), that paycheck buys what $182,295 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 29.6% above the Puerto Rico state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, optometrists in San Juan, PR, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $136,721, which sits slightly below the national average of $140,612. This figure reflects a strong local market for optometry professionals, with salaries ranging from $45,498 at the lower end to $309,137 for the highest earners. These numbers, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, indicate a competitive market bolstered by factors such as the OD/MD model where optometrists collaborate with ophthalmologists, adding surgical co-management revenue and elevating overall compensation. Such collaboration not only enhances patient care but also creates revenue streams that benefit optometrists in San Juan's evolving healthcare environment.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,498 | $21.88 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,288 | $38.60 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,721 | $65.73 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $173,189 | $83.26 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $309,137 | $148.62 |
Median Salary Position
2.77% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Juan
In San Juan, PR, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $263,639 (2026 est.). At $136,721, the local median is 2.77% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Juan: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Juan Optometrist Pay Compares
San Juan median: $136,721/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Juan Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico Average | $105,494 | +29.60% more |
| National Average | $140,612 | -2.77% less |
Optometrists in San Juan, PR earn a median of $136,721 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.77% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 29.60% above the Puerto Rico state average of $105,494.
2019 BLS Actual
$39,760
2025 BLS Actual
$132,790
2026 Current Est.
$136,721
2019–2027 Growth
+254.0%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in San Juan (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $39,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $75,050 | Actual |
| 2021 | $120,860 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,870 | Actual |
| 2023 | $51,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $115,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,790 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,721 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $140,768 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Juan metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 234.0% from $39,760 (2019) to $132,790 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $140,768 by 2027 — a total increase of $101,008 (254.04%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Juan 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) | $45,498 – $80,288 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,288 – $136,721 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,721 – $173,189 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $173,189 – $309,137 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in San Juan
As of now, San Juan employs around 220 optometrists, revealing a robust local demand for optical services. The cost of living has a significant impact on real earnings in this region, which can affect how much do optometrists make in San Juan. Positions in private optometry practices, especially those adopting the OD/MD model, tend to offer higher compensation compared to retail optical chains like LensCrafters or large pharmacy-based options like Walmart Vision. Variances in pay can often be traced back to factors such as practice ownership equity, specialization in ocular disease, and historical employment contracts that may have been affected by recent acquisitions of privately owned practices by private equity firms. To maximize pay in this market, optometrists may consider pursuing residency training, which often leads to higher compensation, as well as seeking opportunities within ophthalmology clinics that offer surgical co-management and other advanced care models.
More salary data for San Juan, PR:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make in San Juan, PR in 2026?
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Can optometrists make $100K in San Juan?
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Related Pages
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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 $132,790 for optometristsin the San Juan 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, 6-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