worthsay

Optometrist Salary in Oklahoma: Is It a Good Career?

Oklahoma · 2026 BLS salary data

an Optometrist pay in Oklahoma

The median wage is $97,350/yr — 29% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Oklahomais one of the lowest-paying states (#51 of 51).

The numbers in Oklahoma

Real BLS state-level figures for Optometrist.

Median salary
$97,350/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$76,690 – $149,660
National median
$136,570/yr
Employed in Oklahoma
570

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

What that pay is really worth in Oklahoma

Salary alone can mislead — Oklahoma costs 12% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
87.8
Nominal median
$97,350
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $110,877
State income tax
Up to 4.75%

Because Oklahoma costs 12% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #49 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #51 on raw salary.

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.

FAQ

How much do optometrist professionals make in Oklahoma?

The median annual wage is $97,350 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $76,690 and $149,660. That's 29% below the national median.

Is Oklahoma a good state for optometrist?

By raw pay, Oklahoma is one of the lowest-paying states (#51 of 51). Adjusted for cost of living (Oklahoma costs 12% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $110,877. Because Oklahoma costs 12% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #49 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #51 on raw salary.

Are optometrist professionals in demand in Oklahoma?

About 570 people work in this field in Oklahoma (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 — Oklahoma pay is 29% below 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.