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Optometrist Salary in Wyoming: Is It a Good Career?

Wyoming · 2026 BLS salary data

an Optometrist pay in Wyoming

The median wage is $111,400/yr — 18% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Wyomingranks #46 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in Wyoming

Real BLS state-level figures for Optometrist.

Median salary
$111,400/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$51,840 – $136,050
National median
$136,570/yr
Employed in Wyoming
90

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

What that pay is really worth in Wyoming

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

Cost of living (US=100)
92.7
Nominal median
$111,400
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $120,173
State income tax
None

Wyoming 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 Wyoming?

The median annual wage is $111,400 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $51,840 and $136,050. That's 18% below the national median.

Is Wyoming a good state for optometrist?

By raw pay, Wyoming ranks #46 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Wyoming costs 7% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $120,173. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are optometrist professionals in demand in Wyoming?

About 90 people work in this field in Wyoming (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 — Wyoming pay is 18% 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.