Optometrist Salary in Mount Vernon, WA: $146,903 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Mount Vernon, WA earns a median $146,903/year (≈ $70.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Mount Vernon's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $136,781 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.7% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Optometrists in Mount Vernon, Washington, can expect a robust median annual salary of $146,903 in 2026, a figure that exceeds the national median for the same year, which is $140,612. Local compensation typically ranges from $85,204 at the 10th percentile to $215,570 at the 90th percentile, reflecting diverse employment settings and levels of experience. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data projected to 2026 and adjusted for regional price parity, indicate that optometrists commanding higher salaries often engage in surgical co-management with ophthalmologists, contributing to higher overall compensation through additional revenue streams. This trend highlights a competitive job market characterized by an expanding scope of practice, offering optometrists in Mount Vernon a favorable landscape for professional growth and income potential.
About the Mount Vernon Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($148,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $85,204 | $40.97 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $123,758 | $59.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $146,903 | $70.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $178,380 | $85.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $215,570 | $103.64 |
Median Salary Position
4.47% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Mount Vernon
In Mount Vernon, WA, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $130,366 (2026 est.). At $146,903, the local median is 4.47% above the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Mount Vernon: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Mount Vernon Optometrist Pay Compares
Mount Vernon median: $146,903/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Mount Vernon Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $150,980 | -2.70% less |
| National Average | $140,612 | +4.47% more |
Optometrists in Mount Vernon, WA earn a median of $146,903 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.47% higher than the national median of $140,612 and 2.70% below the Washington state average of $150,980.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Mount Vernon has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Mount Vernon, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $146,903 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $136,781 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$120,406
2025 BLS Actual
$142,680
2026 Current Est.
$146,903
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Mount Vernon (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $120,406 | Actual |
| 2020 | $123,331 | Actual |
| 2021 | $129,861 | Actual |
| 2022 | $131,209 | Actual |
| 2023 | $137,759 | Actual |
| 2024 | $154,621 | Actual |
| 2025 | $142,680 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $146,903 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $151,252 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Mount Vernon metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $120,406 (2019) to $142,680 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $151,252 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,846 (25.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Mount Vernon 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $85,204 – $123,758 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $123,758 – $146,903 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $146,903 – $178,380 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $178,380 – $215,570 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Mount Vernon
The job market for optometrists in Mount Vernon shows solid demand, with six professionals currently employed in the area. However, the cost of living index stands at 107.4, above the national average, which can impact disposable income and overall purchasing power for local optometrists. Those looking to maximize their earnings may find that employers such as private optometry practices and ophthalmology centers provide better salary packages than retail chains like LensCrafters or Walmart Vision. Factors driving salary variability include practice ownership, which can offer equity opportunities, and collaboration within the OD/MD model that allows for shared surgical referral revenues. Residency-trained optometrists, specializing in ocular disease or VA pathways, may also command higher wages. To optimize optometrist pay in Mount Vernon, professionals should consider seeking roles in settings that leverage these dynamics while also expanding their scope of practice to include advanced treatments.
More salary data for Mount Vernon, WA:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $142,680 for optometristsin the Mount Vernon metropolitan area. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Mount Vernon 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