State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: Missouri vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In Missouri, $133,810. After cost-of-living, the gap is 14% — not 17.2%.
Nominal pay gap
-17.2%
Missouri vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-14%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
Missouri
Optometrists
- Median
- $133,810
- p25
- $103,720
- p75
- $159,870
- p10
- $64,610
- p90
- $175,270
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 90.8
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.