State comparison · 2025
Optometrists salary: New Jersey vs North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina earn a median of $161,560. In New Jersey, $159,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 14.7% — not 1.6%.
Nominal pay gap
-1.6%
New Jersey vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
-14.7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
New Jersey
Optometrists
- Median
- $159,040
- p25
- $134,560
- p75
- $165,960
- p10
- $104,730
- p90
- $232,960
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 108.8
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
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.