Optometrist Salary in St. George, UT: $82,358 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in St. George, UT earns a median $82,358/year (≈ $39.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in St. George's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $84,625 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 40.3% below the Utah state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. George, Utah, optometrists can anticipate a median annual salary of $82,358 in 2026, a figure significantly lower than the national median of $140,612. Salaries for optometrists in the region exhibit considerable variability, with the lowest earners making about $39,104 while the most successful practitioners can earn as much as $510,229. These salary estimates, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, showcase the potential for earnings to vary widely based on factors such as practice ownership, specialty, and market demand. St. George's market offers unique opportunities in surgical co-management under the OD/MD model, which can substantially enhance revenue and consequently, optometrist pay in St. George, UT.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,104 | $18.80 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,309 | $23.23 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,358 | $39.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $174,002 | $83.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $510,229 | $245.30 |
Median Salary Position
41.43% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. George
In St. George, UT, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $471,125 (2026 est.). At $82,358, the local median is 41.43% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. George: You'd be in the entry-level range
How St. George Optometrist Pay Compares
St. George median: $82,358/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. George Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Average | $137,953 | -40.30% less |
| National Average | $140,612 | -41.43% less |
Optometrists in St. George, UT earn a median of $82,358 per year (2026 est.), which is 41.43% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 40.30% below the Utah state average of $137,953.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. George has a cost of living 2.68% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. George, UT has a cost-of-living index of 97.321 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $82,358 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $84,625 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.75% 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
$88,050
2025 BLS Actual
$79,990
2026 Current Est.
$82,358
2019–2027 Growth
+-3.7%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in St. George (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,050 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,610 | Actual |
| 2021 | $72,803 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,840 | Actual |
| 2023 | $113,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $127,910 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,990 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,358 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,795 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. George metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew -9.2% from $88,050 (2019) to $79,990 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,795 by 2027 — a total increase of $-3,255 (-3.70%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. George 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) | $39,104 – $48,309 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,309 – $82,358 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,358 – $174,002 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $174,002 – $510,229 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in St. George
The local job market consists of approximately 30 employed optometrists in St. George, where the cost of living index stands at 97.321, indicating a lower-than-average living expense compared to national standards. This favorable cost of living may positively influence the purchasing power of optometrists in the area. Notably, compensation often varies based on the type of employer, with ophthalmology practices generally offering higher salaries compared to retail optical chains like LensCrafters and Walmart Vision. Factors driving compensation distinctions include the potential for income from practice ownership, experience and residency training in ocular disease, and the operational revenue from surgical referrals in the OD/MD model. For those looking to maximize pay in St. George, pursuing advanced training or joining established practices with strong connections in specialty care can yield substantial financial benefits as the optometry field continues to evolve and grow.
More salary data for St. George, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make in St. George, UT in 2026?
Is St. George, UT a good place to work as a optometrist?
Can optometrists make $100K in St. George?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted optometrist salary in St. George?
How much does a optometrist make per hour in St. George?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Utah
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 $79,990 for optometristsin the St. George 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