Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · SOC 29-1041

Optometrists in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$136,920

per year in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

same as

National Median

$136,570

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$65.83/hr

median hourly

Employment

40

jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

BLS metro-level wage data places Optometrists pay in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC at a median of $136,920 per year ($65.83/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $136,570, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays same as, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 40 optometristss are employed across the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA in SOC 29-1041.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pay distribution spans from $109,150 at the 10th percentile to $193,300 at the 90th — a 1.8× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $136,920 and the 75th at $136,920, so half of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton-based optometristss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide NC data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Annual Salary Distribution

$109,150$136,920$136,920$136,920$193,300
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$109,150

25th Percentile

$136,920

Median

$136,920

75th Percentile

$136,920

90th Percentile

$193,300

Top Paying Jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Similar Occupations in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton

Other roles inside the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Optometrists make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The median annual salary for Optometrists in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is $136,920 ($65.83/hour). The salary range spans from $109,150 at the 10th percentile to $193,300 at the 90th percentile.
Is Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton a good place to work as a Optometrists?
Optometrists in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC earns same as the national median of $136,570. There are approximately 40 Optometrists jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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