SOC 29-1041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Optometrists — Tucson
Tucson, AZ · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Tucson, AZ comes to $157,650 a year, ahead of the national median of $136,570 by 15.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Tucson, AZ comes to $157,650 a year, ahead of the national median of $136,570 by 15.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $101,460 and $159,530. The lowest tenth earn under $97,750, while the highest tenth earn more than $169,070.
The area has 80 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.75 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Phoenix leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $115,960. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 14th of 490 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $97,750 | −28.4% |
| 25th | $101,460 | −25.7% |
| Median (50th) | $157,650 | +15.4% |
| 75th | $159,530 | +16.8% |
| 90th | $169,070 | +23.8% |
| Mean | $144,750 | +6.0% |
Other metro areas in Arizona
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $115,960 | 860 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tucson sit close to the national average, so $157,650 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$157,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$156,554US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $157,650 a year, 15.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $97,750 to $169,070 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 80 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $115,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Optometrists in Tucson, AZ?
The median annual wage is $157,650, or $75.79 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 Tucson, AZ is 15.4% higher. 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 Tucson, AZ earns more than $169,070 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $97,750 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 Phoenix, at $115,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 80 jobs in this occupation in Tucson, AZ. 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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