State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: Alabama vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In Alabama, $145,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 4.6% — not 10.2%.
Nominal pay gap
-10.2%
Alabama vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-4.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Alabama
Optometrists
- Median
- $145,090
- p25
- $104,730
- p75
- $166,870
- p10
- $56,740
- p90
- $196,600
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.8
North Carolina
Optometrists
- Median
- $161,560
- p25
- $123,250
- p75
- $193,790
- p10
- $94,320
- p90
- $215,340
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +100%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.