Optometrist Hourly Pay in Streamwood, IL: $62.74 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a optometrist working in Streamwood, IL runs $62.74 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $130,505 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Weighted against Streamwood's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.1, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $64.62 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $78,304 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Streamwood, Illinois, the average hourly pay for optometrists is projected to be $62.74 in 2026, falling below the national average of $67.60. This rate reflects the professional's compensation for work in diverse settings, from private exam rooms and retail optical chains to VA outpatient clinics. For practitioners interested in part-time roles, such as those working three days a week, the pay structure can allow for a supplemental income while maintaining a flexible schedule. The entry-level hourly rate starts at around $36.78, with top earners in the field making as much as $92.02 per hour. These figures are derived from projected annual salaries and indicate a competitive environment for optometrists in this region.
About the Streamwood Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($135,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Optometrist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36.78 | $294.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51.52 | $412.17 |
| Median (P50) | $62.74 | $501.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76.34 | $610.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $92.02 | $736.12 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Streamwood
Based on $62.74/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $62.74/hr, a optometrist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Streamwood, IL can expect to earn approximately $130,507 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $75,293. With a cost-of-living index of 97.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Streamwood.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Streamwood
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,509.75 | $10,876 | $130,507 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,505.85 | $6,525 | $78,304 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,003.90 | $4,350 | $52,203 |
Compare OD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Optometrist (Streamwood) | $62.74 |
| Dentist, General (National Avg) | $79.54 |
| Pharmacist (National Avg) | $66.51 |
| Opticians, Dispensing (National Avg) | $21.11 |
| Physician Assistant (National Avg) | $64.13 |
Optometrists in Streamwood, IL earn a median of $130,505 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.19% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 4.40% below the Illinois state average of $136,511.
Optometrist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $62.74/hr = $78,304/year (purchasing power: $80,643).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $130,507/year (purchasing power: $134,405).
CoL index: 97.1 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$51.43/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$60.94/hr
2026 Current Est.
$62.74/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Optometrists in Streamwood (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51.43/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $52.68/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $55.46/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $56.04/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $58.84/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $60.24/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $60.94/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62.74/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64.60/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for optometrists in Streamwood grew 18.5% from $51.43/hr (2019) to $60.94/hr (2025). At a 2.96% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $64.60/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem optometrists can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Streamwood metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Optometrist in Streamwood
Examining the part-time earning potential shows that a three-day-a-week optometrist could earn approximately $79,230 annually, significantly less than a full-time counterpart. Per diem optometrist pay in Streamwood can be lucrative, with fill-in practitioners at retail chains earning between $500 and $800 per day. In contrast, those working in OD/MD practices may charge between $700 and $1,200 per day, while residency-trained ocular disease ODs at hospitals can command rates from $90 to $130 per hour. Employer types play a critical role in defining hourly rates; while private practices may offer lower benefits and higher pay, retail chains may compensate differently, with the trade-off being health insurance versus higher hourly earnings without benefits. Negotiation becomes vital in this context, as many optometrists may seek to balance financial needs while assessing the total compensation package, especially as the industry faces expansion in scope-of-practice areas such as glaucoma management and laser procedures.
More salary data for Streamwood, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Patel, OD
Career Analyst
Aisha Patel has 10 years of experience in optometry. She specializes in pediatric vision care. Aisha works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for optometrists in Streamwood. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Streamwood is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for optometrists (SOC 29-1041).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, OD, a licensed optometrist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov