State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: District of Columbia vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In District of Columbia, $134,840. After cost-of-living, the gap is 28.4% — not 16.5%.
Nominal pay gap
-16.5%
District of Columbia vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-28.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Optometrists
- Median
- $134,840
- p25
- $113,030
- p75
- $163,070
- p10
- $102,570
- p90
- $207,570
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
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.