Examine eyes for vision problems and disease, prescribing corrective lenses and treatment. Median salary in Winston-Salem: $132K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Optometrists in Winston-Salem earn approximately 4% lower than the US national median for this role — a $6,000 discount on annual base salary. Winston-Salem's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 85 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for Winston-Salem's cost-of-living index (85), the median Optometrist salary buys the equivalent of $155,294 in a US-average-cost city. That's $17,294 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Only 5% of Optometrist positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Winston-Salem salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $132K by 2030.
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The median Optometrist salary in Winston-Salem, NC is $132,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Winston-Salem–NC metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Optometrists in Winston-Salem with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $108,000 and $132,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $132,000 to $161,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $161,000 to $202,000 or more.
Winston-Salem has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Winston-Salem than the national average. North Carolina has a 4.75% state income tax rate.
Doctor of Optometry (OD); state licensure. 5% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.