The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 40,900 optometrists were employed in the United States as of May 2024.  At that time, about 6,090 optometrists were employed in the Mid-Eastern U.S., a region that includes five states and the District of Columbia. BLS data shows the region to be a generally strong one for optometrist pay.  Although Delaware & Pennsylvania failed to meet the national average for optometrist annual mean wages, the other four states in the region rated among the twenty best states in the nation on that pay metric for optometrists. A deeper dive into BLS data from May 2024 reveals the following details about optometrist pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.:

Optometrist Pay in the Mid-Eastern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
DC	60	$157,130	6th
DE	180	$134,830	27th
MD	870	$142,060	19nd
NJ	950	$145,500	13th
NY	2,500	$158,600	5th
PA	1,530	$135,880	26th
U.S.	40,900	$137,190	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on November 21, 2025