Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Optometrist's pay go, state by state?
A Optometrist's pay leaves the most room in New Mexico — about $10,079/mo take-home against $1,034/mo typical rent — and the least in Idaho.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | $10,079/mo | $1,034/mo | 10% |
| Maryland | $10,628/mo | $1,683/mo | 16% |
| North Carolina | $10,046/mo | $1,147/mo | 11% |
| Alaska | $10,090/mo | $1,361/mo | 13% |
| New York | $10,236/mo | $1,621/mo | 16% |
| West Virginia | $9,040/mo | $848/mo | 9% |
| Connecticut | $9,572/mo | $1,483/mo | 15% |
| New Jersey | $9,536/mo | $1,656/mo | 17% |
| District of Columbia | $9,749/mo | $1,900/mo | 19% |
| Wisconsin | $8,881/mo | $1,033/mo | 12% |
| Delaware | $9,166/mo | $1,321/mo | 14% |
| Pennsylvania | $8,941/mo | $1,176/mo | 13% |
| Vermont | $8,963/mo | $1,207/mo | 13% |
| Massachusetts | $9,420/mo | $1,716/mo | 18% |
| Minnesota | $8,919/mo | $1,230/mo | 14% |
| Washington | $9,305/mo | $1,641/mo | 18% |
| Maine | $8,724/mo | $1,104/mo | 13% |
| Kentucky | $8,464/mo | $918/mo | 11% |
| Arkansas | $8,429/mo | $903/mo | 11% |
| Rhode Island | $8,785/mo | $1,289/mo | 15% |
| North Dakota | $8,268/mo | $911/mo | 11% |
| Michigan | $8,364/mo | $1,072/mo | 13% |
| Illinois | $8,519/mo | $1,246/mo | 15% |
| Arizona | $8,678/mo | $1,419/mo | 16% |
| Ohio | $8,232/mo | $986/mo | 12% |
| Colorado | $8,899/mo | $1,659/mo | 19% |
| Oregon | $8,593/mo | $1,431/mo | 17% |
| Texas | $8,488/mo | $1,328/mo | 16% |
| Louisiana | $8,120/mo | $1,028/mo | 13% |
| Kansas | $8,113/mo | $1,025/mo | 13% |
| Nebraska | $8,058/mo | $1,017/mo | 13% |
| Iowa | $7,951/mo | $932/mo | 12% |
| New Hampshire | $8,432/mo | $1,424/mo | 17% |
| South Carolina | $8,072/mo | $1,131/mo | 14% |
| Hawaii | $8,745/mo | $1,927/mo | 22% |
| Indiana | $7,797/mo | $1,022/mo | 13% |
| California | $8,711/mo | $1,969/mo | 23% |
| Alabama | $7,664/mo | $967/mo | 13% |
| Florida | $8,156/mo | $1,542/mo | 19% |
| Utah | $7,881/mo | $1,396/mo | 18% |
| Georgia | $7,794/mo | $1,320/mo | 17% |
| South Dakota | $7,116/mo | $910/mo | 13% |
| Nevada | $7,673/mo | $1,478/mo | 19% |
| Montana | $7,082/mo | $1,031/mo | 15% |
| Mississippi | $6,859/mo | $933/mo | 14% |
| Tennessee | $6,988/mo | $1,111/mo | 16% |
| Wyoming | $6,785/mo | $979/mo | 14% |
| Missouri | $6,422/mo | $997/mo | 16% |
| Oklahoma | $6,349/mo | $970/mo | 15% |
| Idaho | $5,381/mo | $1,163/mo | 22% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.