Optometrist Salary in Clarksville, TN: $136,113 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Clarksville, TN earns a median $136,113/year (≈ $65.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Clarksville's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $149,662 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% above the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Clarksville, TN, optometrists earn a median annual salary of $136,113, which is slightly below the national median of $140,612. This salary, drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflects the diverse employment landscape for optometrists in the city, where practice ownership, employed positions, and retail chain roles create varying compensation experiences. The overall salary range for optometrists in the area spans from $49,009 at the 10th percentile to $164,540 at the 90th percentile. These figures indicate a competitive job market for optometrists; those who can navigate different practice models may find better opportunities and potential for higher pay in Clarksville.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,009 | $23.56 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $100,520 | $48.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,113 | $65.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $159,042 | $76.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $164,540 | $79.10 |
Median Salary Position
3.2% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Clarksville
In Clarksville, TN, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $115,531 (2026 est.). At $136,113, the local median is 3.2% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Clarksville: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Clarksville Optometrist Pay Compares
Clarksville median: $136,113/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Clarksville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $132,923 | +2.40% more |
| National Average | $140,612 | -3.20% less |
Optometrists in Clarksville, TN earn a median of $136,113 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.20% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 2.40% above the Tennessee state average of $132,923.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Clarksville has a cost of living 9.05% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Clarksville, TN has a cost-of-living index of 90.947 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $136,113 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $149,662 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.95% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$122,790
2025 BLS Actual
$132,200
2026 Current Est.
$136,113
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Clarksville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $122,790 | Actual |
| 2020 | $127,080 | Actual |
| 2021 | $120,323 | Actual |
| 2022 | $121,571 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,641 | Actual |
| 2024 | $116,206 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,200 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,113 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $140,142 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Clarksville metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 7.7% from $122,790 (2019) to $132,200 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $140,142 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,352 (14.13%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Clarksville 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) | $49,009 – $100,520 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $100,520 – $136,113 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,113 – $159,042 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $159,042 – $164,540 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Clarksville
With approximately 30 optometrists currently employed in the area and a cost-of-living index of 90.947, the financial landscape in Clarksville offers a decent degree of purchasing power for practitioners. Local employers vary in compensation based on models of care; private optometry practices and ophthalmology practices that utilize both optometrists and MDs tend to pay more compared to retail optical chains like LensCrafters or Walmart Vision. Factors influencing the income disparity include ownership equity and whether an optometrist specializes in residency training, especially in fields like ocular disease. For those seeking to enhance their optometrist pay in Clarksville, it may be advantageous to pursue advanced training and consider positioning themselves within collaborative care models alongside ophthalmologists, which can lead to increased referrals and shared revenue.
More salary data for Clarksville, TN:
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 $132,200 for optometristsin the Clarksville 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, 4-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