Loading...
Loading...
Compare optometrist licensing requirements across 51 US states and territories. Click any row to view that state's full licensing guide.
Avg. Median Salary
$131,624
across 50 states
Avg. Time to License
4.2 years
across 51 states
Avg. Initial Cost
$4,894
across 51 states
| State | Median Salary | Time to License | Initial Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $129,700#29 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,335#45 | 1 mo#1 |
| Alaska | $165,830#1 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,635#51 | 1 mo#1 |
| Arizona | $134,430#22 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,935#33 | 1 mo#1 |
| Arkansas | $99,970#47 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,135#43 | 1 mo#1 |
| California | $137,070#19 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,893#32 | 1 mo#1 |
| Colorado | $137,370#18 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Connecticut | $143,000#14 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,465#49 | 1 mo#1 |
| Delaware | $137,910#15 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,039#40 | 1 mo#1 |
| District of Columbia | $154,300#8 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,056#41 | 1 mo#1 |
| Florida | $129,500#31 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,503#50 | 1 mo#1 |
| Georgia | $129,690#30 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,955#38 | 1 mo#1 |
| Hawaii | $136,670#20 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,549#2 | 1 mo#1 |
| Idaho | $66,880#50 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,535#1 | 1 mo#1 |
| Illinois | $136,200#21 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,335#45 | 1 mo#1 |
| Indiana | $127,080#36 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Iowa | $119,990#39 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,935#33 | 1 mo#1 |
| Kansas | $128,510#33 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,682#6 | 1 mo#1 |
| Kentucky | $132,000#24 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,435#48 | 1 mo#1 |
| Louisiana | $120,080#38 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,335#45 | 1 mo#1 |
| Maine | $133,470#23 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,935#33 | 1 mo#1 |
| Maryland | $157,830#3 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,935#33 | 1 mo#1 |
| Massachusetts | $150,820#10 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,255#44 | 1 mo#1 |
| Michigan | $131,700#25 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,992#39 | 1 mo#1 |
| Minnesota | $150,020#11 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,730#9 | 1 mo#1 |
| Mississippi | $107,600#46 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Missouri | $113,030#43 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,635#3 | 1 mo#1 |
| Montana | $108,600#45 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Nebraska | $116,850#42 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,685#7 | 1 mo#1 |
| Nevada | $146,760#12 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,935#33 | 1 mo#1 |
| New Hampshire | $130,310#26 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| New Jersey | $156,000#5 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,785#26 | 1 mo#1 |
| New Mexico | $154,630#7 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| New York | $163,040#2 | 4.2 yr#1 | $5,077#42 | 1 mo#1 |
| North Carolina | $153,750#9 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,835#27 | 1 mo#1 |
| North Dakota | $128,940#32 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Ohio | $130,000#28 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,835#27 | 1 mo#1 |
| Oklahoma | $98,890#48 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Oregon | $119,980#40 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,685#7 | 1 mo#1 |
| Pennsylvania | $128,260#35 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Rhode Island | $144,360#13 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| South Carolina | $137,450#17 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| South Dakota | $118,980#41 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Tennessee | $110,660#44 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,835#27 | 1 mo#1 |
| Texas | $128,360#34 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,835#27 | 1 mo#1 |
| Utah | $124,830#37 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,635#3 | 1 mo#1 |
| Vermont | $156,000#5 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Virginia | — | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Washington | $157,650#4 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,835#27 | 1 mo#1 |
| West Virginia | $130,190#27 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
| Wisconsin | $137,650#16 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,635#3 | 1 mo#1 |
| Wyoming | $88,410#49 | 4.2 yr#1 | $4,735#10 | 1 mo#1 |
Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024. Timeline and processing times derived from state licensing board requirements. Cost includes government application and exam fees (excludes education/training costs). Rankings use dense ranking — tied values share the same rank.