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Optometrist Salary in Delaware: Is It a Good Career?

Delaware · 2026 BLS salary data

an Optometrist pay in Delaware

The median wage is $161,270/yr — 18% above the national median. Among U.S. states, Delawareranks #4 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Delaware

Real BLS state-level figures for Optometrist.

Median salary
$161,270/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$107,880 – $175,750
National median
$136,570/yr
Employed in Delaware
190

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Delaware

Salary alone can mislead — Delaware costs about the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
99.8
Nominal median
$161,270
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $161,593
State income tax
Up to 6.6%

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions; some localities also levy income tax.

FAQ

How much do optometrist professionals make in Delaware?

The median annual wage is $161,270 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $107,880 and $175,750. That's 18% above the national median.

Is Delaware a good state for optometrist?

By raw pay, Delaware ranks #4 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Delaware costs about the U.S. average), that median is worth about $161,593.

Are optometrist professionals in demand in Delaware?

About 190 people work in this field in Delaware (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +8.0% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Optometrist nationally — Delaware pay is 18% above the national median. See the full an Optometrist career guide →

The verdict

Yes for the balance it offers — optometrists earn strong pay with good hours and growing demand, without the extreme training of physicians. The main caveats are optometry-school debt and a somewhat routine clinical scope.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Strong pay with predictable, family-friendly hours
  • Much-faster-than-average projected growth
  • Less training than an MD/DO path
  • Practice-ownership potential
  • Clean, low-stress clinical environment

Cons

  • Significant optometry-school debt (OD degree)
  • Somewhat routine, repetitive scope
  • Market saturation in some urban areas
  • Limited scope vs ophthalmologists
  • Retail-chain settings can pressure volume

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People wanting strong pay with good work-life balance
  • Those who like steady, low-stress clinical work
  • Aspiring practice owners

✗ Probably not if…

  • People wanting broad medical scope
  • Those unwilling to take on the OD-degree debt

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Optometrist is worth it — titles link to the original threads.