HealthcareBLS OESTech Hub

Optometrist Salary in Miami

2026 · Official labour data · 8 comparison cities

$131,070/yr

Last updated: July 2026 · Source: BLS OES Survey · 1.1M employer sample

Typical range: $109,262 $157,230

Very High Confidence · 100/100

How much does a Optometrist make in Miami, FL?

A Optometrist in Miami earns a median of $131,070/year (about $63/hour). Most earn between $109,262 (25th percentile) and $157,230 (75th percentile); top earners (90th percentile) make $185,281 or more — 4% below the US average. Figures are from BLS employer payroll data, not self-reports.

$92,721
Entry (P10)
$131,070
Median (P50)
$157,230
Top 25% (P75)
$185,281
Top 10% (P90)

Understanding these Optometrist salary numbers

We report percentiles, not a single average, because pay isn't evenly spread — a handful of very high earners would drag an average upward and mislead you. Here's exactly what each figure means.

Median (P50) — $131,070

Half of Optometrists in Miami earn more than this and half earn less. It's the most honest "typical" salary — better than an average, which gets skewed by a few top earners.

25th percentile (P25) — $109,262

The lower end of the typical range: 75% of Optometrists earn more than this. It's common for early-career roles or lower-cost employers. Earning below it is grounds to negotiate.

75th percentile (P75) — $157,230

Your negotiation target: only 25% of Optometrists earn above it. Reaching P75 usually means seniority, in-demand specialisations, or simply negotiating from data. See how to negotiate.

90th percentile (P90) — $185,281

Top earners: only 10% of Optometrists make this or more — typically senior, highly specialised, or at the best-paying employers.

Gross vs after-tax pay

These figures are gross (before tax). What actually reaches your account depends on your country, state, and deductions. Estimate your net with the take-home calculator.

National vs Miami pay

City figures apply the local market premium to BLS data, so Miami differs from the US average by -4%. A higher number isn't always better once cost of living is counted.

Hourly rate — $63/hr

The hourly figure is the annual median divided by 2,080 (40 hours × 52 weeks). If you regularly work more than 40 hours, your real hourly rate is lower than this. Convert any salary with the salary calculator.

Why this differs from Glassdoor or Payscale

Those sites publish what people say they earn (self-reports), which skew high because higher earners report more often. Our figures come from mandatory employer payroll records (BLS OEWS), so they reflect the whole market — not just a vocal subset.

How current and reliable is this number?

This page carries a confidence score of 100/100, based on the data source and coverage. US figures track the latest BLS release and refresh automatically; international figures use OECD/ILO data. See the changelog for live data freshness.

What counts as a "good" Optometrist salary in Miami?

Around the median ($131,070) is solid and $157,230+ is strong — but "good" really depends on local costs. Check what the number is actually worth with the good-salary breakdown for Miami.

Still curious how we get these numbers? Every figure is traceable to a primary source — see the full methodology and data sources.

Cite or reuse this data

Optometrist salary in Miami, FL: median $131,070 (P75 $157,230), per BLS OEWS via Official Salary, 2026.

Free JSON: /api/salary?job=optometrist&city=miami — no key. API & widgets →

Key insights for Optometrists in Miami

✓ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated July 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Confidence: LowMethodology
  • Optometrists in Miami earn about 4% less than the national median for the role ($131K vs $137K).
  • Cost of living in Miami runs about 20% above the US average, so $131K is worth roughly $109K at national prices.
  • After a simplified take-home estimate, $131K nets about $92K/yr — roughly $51K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
  • Pay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Optometrist reaches about $168K — a +28% step from mid-level.
Official Salary Verdict™
Typical Range

Optometrists in Miami typically earn $109K–$157K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $131K — half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $185K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)Updated monthly via BLS APIHuman-reviewed methodologyConfidence Score: 100/100Editorial policy →

Optometrist Salary Analysis — Miami

Optometrists in Miami earn a median salary of $131K, which is 4% below the national median of $137K. Miami's established technology sector sustains above-average demand for this role, supporting premium compensation.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Miami.

Cost of Living Adjustment

Miami's cost of living is 20% above the US average. Your $131K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $109K in a city with average US living costs.

$131K
Nominal salary
+20%
CoL vs US avg
$109K
Real value

Salary Distribution — Miami

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$92,721

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$109,262

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$131,070

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$157,230

Senior / high-performer — target

P90Top 10%
$185,281

Staff / principal / lead

Optometrist salary chart for Miami, FL, 2026: median $131K, top 25% earn $157K+, from BLS employer payroll data
Optometrist pay in Miami — free to share with attributionDownload chart
-4%
vs US avg
+4%
demand growth
Low
AI risk
Data Confidence
100/100A+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Jul 30, 2026

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Official Salary Fair Pay Score™

Is $131K a good salary for Optometrist in Miami?

Based on BLS data for 131,070 comparable professionals in this role

50
You're paid above average

You're earning above the median — in the top half of this role's salary range.

Bottom 10%: $93K·Median: $131K·Top 10%: $185K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted · 89% confidenceSource reliability: 40/40 (BLS)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $131K for Optometrists in Miami

-4%
FL market level
FL pays 4% below the global baseline — lower cost of living often offsets this.
+20%
Miami metro premium
Major metro areas command higher salaries to offset cost of living.

Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

Optometrist Salary by Experience Level in Miami

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$91,749$7,646$44
Junior22 yrs$112,720$9,393$54
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$124,953$10,413$60
Senior66 yrs$138,410$11,534$67
Staff1010 yrs$167,770$13,981$81
Principal1414 yrs$192,935$16,078$93
Distinguished1818 yrs$199,226$16,602$96

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More — Optometrist

Estimated premium above the Miami median based on market demand

Eye Exams+4% ≈ +$5K/yr
Visual Acuity+4% ≈ +$5K/yr
Refractive Error+4% ≈ +$5K/yr
Contact Lenses+4% ≈ +$5K/yr
Slit Lamp+4% ≈ +$5K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Optometrist Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown — from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth × 1.4 + (100 − AI risk) × 0.4

D37/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+4%/yr
AI Displacement Risk22% — Low
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+1.5%/yr
Below Average: Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
$135K
In 2 yrs
$141K
In 5 yrs
$152K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation — Optometrist

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$167K$179K
per year
Base (76%)Bonus (6%)Equity (2%)Benefits (17%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$131,070
Annual Bonus
Typical: 3–12% of base
$9,830
Equity (annualised)
~3% of base — RSUs/options
$3,277
Benefits Value
~22% — healthcare, 401k, PTO
$28,835
Total Comp (mid)
$173,012

Bonus, equity, and benefits are modelled estimates from category norms (not scraped from any single employer); base is BLS. Actual total comp varies by employer, level, and negotiation.

Typical Benefits for Optometrists

— show

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare Optometrist Salaries by City

How Miami, FL stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
Miami, FL (current)$131,070$157,230+-4%
New York, NY$165,439$198,459++21%
San Francisco, CA$199,281$239,056++46%
Seattle, WA$195,352$234,342++43%
Austin, TX$156,968$188,297++15%
Boston, MA$179,596$215,442++32%
Chicago, IL$148,787$178,483++9%
Los Angeles, CA$147,694$177,172++8%
Denver, CO$168,815$202,509++24%

Official Salary Career GPS™

What should I do next as a Optometrist?

O*NET · US Dept of Labor

Higher-paying roles in the same field

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Optometrist salary in Miami, FL?

The median Optometrist salary in Miami, FL is $131K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $157K+ per year.

What is a good Optometrist salary in Miami, FL?

The 75th percentile ($157K/yr) is the professional benchmark — what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($131K) is above-average for this role in Miami, FL.

How much does a Optometrist earn per hour in Miami, FL?

Based on the median annual salary of $131K, a Optometrist in Miami, FL earns approximately $63/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$76/hr.

Is Miami, FL a good market for Optometrists?

Miami, FL pays 4% below the US national average for this role. Demand for Optometrists is growing 4% annually, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher Optometrist salary in Miami, FL?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($157K) — it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

What is the entry-level Optometrist salary in Miami, FL?

Entry-level Optometrists in Miami, FL (10th–25th percentile) earn roughly $93K–$109K per year, rising toward the $131K median with experience and in-demand skills.

What does a senior Optometrist earn in Miami, FL?

Senior Optometrists in Miami, FL — the top quartile up to the 90th percentile — earn about $157K–$185K per year, with the top 10% making $185K+.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology — no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.

How is the Miami figure calculated?

The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Miami, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median ÷ national median) and applies it to the national baseline.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less — this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates — actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

What a Optometrist salary really means in Miami

Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking — on the $131,070 median.

Estimated take-home

$100,048/yr

$8,337/month net

Gross median
$131,070
Income tax
$20,995
Social / FICA
$10,027
Effective rate
24%

Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate — not tax advice.

Rent affordability

17%

of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,411/mo)

The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$3,360/mo), roughly $4,977/mo is left to save or invest.

Cost-of-living estimate for Miami; rent ≈ 42% of budget.

Remote vs onsite

$131,070$136,570

typical fully-remote benchmark range

Onsite Optometrists in Miami earn the local median of $131,070. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($136,570) and the local rate — employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.

Compare all Optometrist markets →
✓ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated July 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Confidence: LowMethodology

How to reach the top 25% as a Optometrist in Miami

The gap between a typical Optometrist and the top quartile in Miami is $26,160/year — about $2,180/month more than the median. Reaching the 75th percentile ($157,230) usually comes down to seniority, in-demand specialisations, and negotiating from real data instead of hoping for a raise.

Optometrist Salary Trend (2019–2024)

BLS OES historical national medians

2019 median
$137K
2024 median
$137K

Source: BLS OEWS 2019–2024. City-level data uses national trend × metro premium.

Education Premium — Optometrist

How degree level affects salary · ACS Census data

High School / GED
-45%
~$72K
Associate's Degree
-18%
~$107K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
~$131K
Master's Degree
+20%
~$157K
Doctoral (PhD)
+18%
~$155K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+130%
~$301K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS · BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

📊Your exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
🚪Walking-away floor so you know when to move on
Miami benchmarks
$131K
Market median
$157K
P75 target
$185K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask

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Optometrist in Miami — Distribution
P10
$93K
P25
$109K
P50
$131K
P75
$157K
P90
$185K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position

Data Source & Attribution

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (1.1 million employer payroll records), OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, ILO ILOSTAT, and other official national statistical agencies. Data is updated via ISR and reflects the most recent release cycle.

BLS.OEWS.2026.v2

Jul 30, 2026

Full methodology →
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