Optometrist Salary in Salt Lake City, UT: $141,313 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Salt Lake City, UT earns a median $141,313/year (≈ $67.94/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Salt Lake City's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.9), that paycheck buys what $140,097 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% above the Utah state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Salt Lake City, UT, the expanding scope of practice for optometrists, which now includes glaucoma management, oral medications, and select laser treatments, significantly influences the compensation landscape. As of 2026, the median annual salary for optometrists is projected to be $141,313, slightly higher than the national median of $140,612. Salaries in the area vary widely, ranging from $51,521 at the bottom 10th percentile to $177,297 at the top 90th percentile. These figures, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, reflect a job market that rewards both advanced training and diverse clinical capabilities, leading to a robust employment outlook for optometrists in Salt Lake City.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $51,521 | $24.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $83,037 | $39.93 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $141,313 | $67.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $166,610 | $80.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $177,297 | $85.24 |
Median Salary Position
0.50% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salt Lake City
In Salt Lake City, UT, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $125,776 (2026 est.). At $141,313, the local median is 0.5% above the national median of $140,612.
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How Salt Lake City Optometrist Pay Compares
Salt Lake City median: $141,313/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salt Lake City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Average | $138,001 | +2.40% more |
| National Average | $140,612 | +0.50% more |
Optometrists in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $141,313 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.50% higher than the national median of $140,612 and 2.40% above the Utah state average of $138,001.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salt Lake City has a cost of living 0.87% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost-of-living index of 100.868 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $141,313 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $140,097 — a 0.86% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,250
2025 BLS Actual
$137,250
2026 Current Est.
$141,313
2019–2027 Growth
+90.8%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Salt Lake City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $74,270 | Actual |
| 2021 | $102,510 | Actual |
| 2022 | $106,100 | Actual |
| 2023 | $126,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $128,860 | Actual |
| 2025 | $137,250 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $141,313 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $145,495 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 80.0% from $76,250 (2019) to $137,250 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,495 by 2027 — a total increase of $69,245 (90.81%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salt Lake City 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) | $51,521 – $83,037 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $83,037 – $141,313 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $141,313 – $166,610 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $166,610 – $177,297 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Salt Lake City
The local job market employs approximately 150 optometrists, offering opportunities across various settings such as private practices, retail chains, and ophthalmology clinics. With a cost-of-living index of 100.868, the purchasing power for optometrists' salaries is slightly above the national average, allowing for a favorable standard of living. Among the highest-paying employers in Salt Lake City are private optometry practices and those affiliated with military health systems, which often provide opportunities for optometrists to engage in a collaborative OD/MD model. The variance in salaries can often be attributed to factors such as practice ownership equity, residency training in ocular disease, and employment terms that vary significantly after acquisition by private equity firms. To optimize earning potential in this local market, newly graduated ODs may consider seeking positions in expanding private practices, pursuing opportunities to engage in surgical referral networks, or developing expertise in underserved areas of vision care, all of which can lead to enhanced job satisfaction and salary outcomes.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
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 $137,250 for optometristsin the Salt Lake City 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