State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: Kentucky vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In Kentucky, $128,860. After cost-of-living, the gap is 16.6% — not 20.2%.
Nominal pay gap
-20.2%
Kentucky vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-16.6%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Kentucky
Optometrists
- Median
- $128,860
- p25
- $97,290
- p75
- $168,030
- p10
- $82,240
- p90
- $254,630
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.2
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.