State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: California vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In California, $136,300. After cost-of-living, the gap is 28.1% — not 15.6%.
Nominal pay gap
-15.6%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-28.1%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Optometrists
- Median
- $136,300
- p25
- $122,960
- p75
- $166,300
- p10
- $99,890
- p90
- $213,710
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -71%
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.