Salary Levels by Experience
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Est. Annual Net |
|---|---|---|
| Associate OD (1–3 yrs) | $84,000–$100,000 | ~$68,554 |
| Staff OD | $98,000–$118,000 | ~$79,018 |
| Senior OD | $116,000–$136,000 | ~$90,637 |
| Practice Owner / Director | $132,000–$192,000 | ~$113,461 |
Tax Breakdown at $110,000 (Bi-Weekly)
| Component | Per Paycheck | Annual | % of Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $4,230.77 | $110,000 | 100% |
| Federal Income Tax | −$608.23 | −$15,814 | 14.4% |
| IL State Income Tax | −$209.42 | −$5,445 | 5.0% |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | −$323.65 | −$8,415 | 7.6% |
| Net Take-Home | $3,089 | ~$80,326 | 73.0% |
What Drives Optometrist Pay in Chicago
Optometrists in New York City provide primary eye care, prescribe corrective lenses, and manage ocular disease at a dense network of independent practices, retail optical chains, and hospital-affiliated clinics. NYC's massive and aging population ensures consistent patient demand, while the city's high concentration of fashion-conscious consumers also drives premium eyewear sales that can boost practice revenue.
Private practice ownership is the primary route to above-average earnings for NYC optometrists, with well-run Manhattan or Brooklyn practices generating owner incomes of $175,000–$240,000 or more. Corporate optometry at chains such as MyEyeDr and Warby Parker offers guaranteed salaries with lower entrepreneurial risk. Medical optometry — managing glaucoma, dry eye, and post-surgical co-management — commands pay premiums over routine refractive care in the NYC market.
- Practice ownership vs. employed associate position
- Medical optometry vs. routine refractive focus
- Optical dispensary and premium lens revenue
- Neighborhood and patient demographics
Top Chicago Employers
Major employers hiring optometrists in Chicago include: Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, AMITA Health.
Tax note: An optometrist earning $138,000 in NYC will take home approximately $88,000–$93,000 after federal, state, and city taxes; practice owners may benefit from pass-through deduction strategies unavailable to W-2 employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
An optometrist earning $110,000 in Chicago takes home approximately $80,326 per year, or $3,089 per bi-weekly paycheck, after all taxes. The effective tax rate is 27.0%.
Chicago optometrist salaries range from $84,000–$100,000 at entry level to $132,000–$192,000 for senior professionals. The median mid-career salary is approximately $110,000.
No — New York State law restricts laser surgery, injections, and most other surgical procedures to ophthalmologists (physicians); however, New York optometrists can diagnose and manage many ocular diseases, prescribe topical and oral medications, and perform co-management of post-surgical patients.
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