Optometrist Salary

Optometrist Salary in Wyoming: $128,509 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Wyoming's 14 metropolitan areas, the average median optometrist pay sits at $128,509/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1041. Because Wyoming sits at BEA RPP 95.8 (4% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $134,143 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Cheyenne ($129,173), Laramie ($128,881), Casper ($127,345).

Optometrist Salary in Wyoming - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Wyoming optometrist salary overview (2026)
$128,509
Avg Median Salary
$61.78
Avg Hourly Rate
87
Metro Employed
14
Cities

The projected average median salary for optometrists in Wyoming in 2026 is $128,510, which is approximately 8.6% lower than the national median of $140,612. In terms of salary variations, Cheyenne ranks as the highest paying city at $132,997, while Jackson offers the lowest salary at $123,201. The difference of $9,796 can be attributed to factors such as cost of living, demand for eye care services, and the concentration of practices in urban versus rural areas. Wyoming has specific state licensing requirements that optometrists must meet, and the scope of practice laws allow for a wide range of services, impacting job roles and compensation rates. With a projected annual compound growth rate of 2.96%, the job market for optometrists in Wyoming indicates a steady demand, suggesting that opportunities for employment are likely to increase in the coming years. In addition to Cheyenne, other cities like Laramie with a projected salary of $132,696, and Casper at $131,114 also demonstrate better earning potential, supporting the notion that urban areas provide more competitive salaries for optometrists. Overall, the landscape for optometry in Wyoming offers solid career prospects, especially for those positioned in higher-paying metropolitan areas.

Wyoming Optometrist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$75,649
avg across 14 cities
Median
$128,509
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$183,252
avg across 14 cities

Overall salary range in Wyoming: $72,045 (lowest entry-level) to $200,262 (highest top earner)

Wyoming vs National Average

Wyoming
$128,509
National Median
$140,612

Wyoming optometrists earn 8.61% less than the national median ($-12,103/year difference).

Wyoming Optometrist Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Wyoming optometrist salary percentiles: 10th percentile $75,649, 25th $105,294, Median $128,509, 75th $153,140, 90th $183,252. US national median is $140,612.$51.3K$102.6K$153.9K$205.2K$75.6K10thEntry Level$105.3K25thEarly Career$128.5KMedianMid Career$153.1K75thExperienced$183.3K90thTop EarnerUS Median $140.6K

Optometrist salaries in Wyoming range from $75,649 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $183,252 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $128,509. The Wyoming median is $12,103 below the US national median of $140,612. The average hourly rate is $61.78/hr. Approximately 87 optometrists are employed across 14 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$105,330

2025 BLS Actual

$124,815

2026 Current Est.

$128,509

2019–2027 Growth

+25.6%

Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Wyoming (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for optometrists in Wyoming. Baseline $105,330 in 2025, projected to $132,313 by 2027.$99.9K$109.4K$118.8K$128.3K$137.7K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$105.3K$107.9K$113.6K$114.8K$120.5K$117.4K$124.8K$128.5K$132.3K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$105,330Actual
2020$107,889Actual
2021$113,601Actual
2022$114,780Actual
2023$120,510Actual
2024$117,372Actual
2025$124,815Actual
2026(current)$128,509Estimated
2027$132,313Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wyoming metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $105,330 (2019) to $124,815 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $132,313 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,983 (25.62%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wyoming metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Wyoming

#1
Cheyenne
13 employed · $63.94/hr
$132,997
+3.49% vs avg
#2
Laramie
9 employed · $63.79/hr
$132,696
+3.26% vs avg
#3
Casper
9 employed · $63.03/hr
$131,114
+2.03% vs avg
#4
Cody
5 employed · $62.05/hr
$129,067
+0.43% vs avg
#5
Lander
4 employed · $61.86/hr
$128,663
+0.12% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Wyoming

CityMedian Salary
Jackson$123,201
Powell$124,069
Green River$125,170
Riverton$125,382
Evanston$125,846

Best Value Cities for Optometrists in Wyoming

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Wyoming cities offer the most purchasing power for optometrists.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Cheyenne$132,99795.8$138,828
Laramie$132,69695.8$138,514
Casper$131,11495.8$136,862
Cody$129,06795.8$134,725
Lander$128,66395.8$134,304

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Wyoming

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$75,649
Mid Career (3-7 years)$128,509
Experienced (7+ years)$183,252

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Wyoming metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 14 Cities in Wyoming

#CityMedian Salary
1Cheyenne$132,997
2Laramie$132,696
3Casper$131,114
4Cody$129,067
5Lander$128,663
6Sheridan$128,188
7Rawlins$127,249
8Gillette$127,195
9Rock Springs$126,169
10Evanston$125,846
11Riverton$125,382
12Green River$125,170
13Powell$124,069
14Jackson$123,201

More Wyoming Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore optometrist hourly pay in Wyoming cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new optometrists.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced optometrists.

Explore More Optometrist Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do optometrists make in Wyoming in 2026?

The average median optometrist salary in Wyoming is $128,509/year across 14 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $123,201 in Jackson to $132,997 in Cheyenne. This makes Wyoming 8.61% below the national median of $140,612. The state employs approximately 87 optometrists.

What is the highest paying city for optometrists in Wyoming?

Cheyenne offers the highest optometrist salary in Wyoming at $132,997/year ($63.94/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Cheyenne ($132,997), Laramie ($132,696), Casper ($131,114). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for optometry services, and competition among employers for licensed optometrists.

How does Wyoming optometrist pay compare to the national average?

Wyoming's average optometrist salary of $128,509 is 8.61% below the national median of $140,612 in 2026. The state employs approximately 87 optometrists across 14 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level optometrist salary in Wyoming?

Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) in Wyoming earn approximately $75,649/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $72,045 in lower-paying areas to $78,630 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many optometrists are employed in Wyoming?

Wyoming employs approximately 87 optometrists across 14 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the optometry field expands and the population ages.

Which Wyoming city offers the best value for optometrists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Cheyenne offers the highest purchasing power for optometrists in Wyoming, with an adjusted salary of $138,828 (nominal: $132,997, CoL index: 95.8). This means your dollar goes 4% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
AP

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.

Clinically reviewed by Rajiv Kumar, ODData verified by Sofia Martinez, OD

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 optometrist compensation across Wyoming. State averages are employment-weighted across 14 metro areas — larger metro areas with more optometristscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-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

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