SOC 29-1041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Optometrists — Bismarck
Bismarck, ND · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Bismarck, ND is $121,100 a year, trailing the national median of $136,570 by 11.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +8.0%
- Openings per year
- 2,400
- Typical entry-level education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
11.5% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Bismarck, ND.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Bismarck, ND is $121,100 a year, trailing the national median of $136,570 by 11.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $107,810 and $167,310. The lowest tenth earn under $103,050, while the highest tenth earn more than $210,580.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Fargo records the highest median at $132,690. Of the 296 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 18th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $103,050 | −24.5% |
| 25th | $107,810 | −21.1% |
| Median (50th) | $121,100 | −11.3% |
| 75th | $167,310 | +22.5% |
| 90th | $210,580 | +54.2% |
| Mean | $138,740 | +1.6% |
Other metro areas in North Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo | $132,690 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bismarck run 9.0% below the national average, so the median of $121,100 goes as far as $133,077 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$121,100as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$133,077US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $121,100 a year, 11.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $103,050 to $210,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fargo, at $132,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Optometrists in Bismarck, ND?
The median annual wage is $121,100, or $58.22 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $136,570, so pay in Bismarck, ND is 11.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bismarck, ND earns more than $210,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $103,050 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fargo, at $132,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Bismarck, ND. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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