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Optometrist Salary in Washington: Is It a Good Career?

Washington · 2026 BLS salary data

an Optometrist pay in Washington

The median wage is $157,560/yr — 15% above the national median. Among U.S. states, Washingtonranks #8 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Washington

Real BLS state-level figures for Optometrist.

Median salary
$157,560/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$126,730 – $171,200
National median
$136,570/yr
Employed in Washington
760

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

What that pay is really worth in Washington

Salary alone can mislead — Washington costs 7% more than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
107
Nominal median
$157,560
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $147,252
State income tax
None

Washington's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #16 of 51, down from #8 on raw salary.

Washington levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

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 Washington?

The median annual wage is $157,560 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $126,730 and $171,200. That's 15% above the national median.

Is Washington a good state for optometrist?

By raw pay, Washington ranks #8 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Washington costs 7% more than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $147,252. Washington's high pay is offset by cost of living — adjusted for prices it ranks #16 of 51, down from #8 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are optometrist professionals in demand in Washington?

About 760 people work in this field in Washington (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 — Washington pay is 15% 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.