State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: Arkansas vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In Arkansas, $124,470. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.4% — not 23%.
Nominal pay gap
-23%
Arkansas vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-16.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Arkansas
Optometrists
- Median
- $124,470
- p25
- $84,140
- p75
- $147,590
- p10
- $57,960
- p90
- $181,520
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 86.9
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.