diff --git a/jstests/libs/query/analyze_plan.js b/jstests/libs/query/analyze_plan.js
index 3fa49b8ee78..7ac603d835e 100644
--- a/jstests/libs/query/analyze_plan.js
+++ b/jstests/libs/query/analyze_plan.js
@@ -1214,3 +1214,20 @@ export function canonicalizePlan(p) {
         });
     }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns index of stage in a aggregation pipeline stage plan running on a single node
+ * (will not work for sharded clusters).
+ * 'root' is root of explain JSON.
+ * Returns -1 if stage does not exist.
+ */
+export function getIndexOfStageOnSingleNode(root, stageName) {
+    if (root.hasOwnProperty("stages")) {
+        for (let i = 0; i < root.stages.length; i++) {
+            if (root.stages[i].hasOwnProperty(stageName)) {
+                return i;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return -1;
+}
diff --git a/jstests/with_mongot/e2e/sort_after_vector_search_optimization.js b/jstests/with_mongot/e2e/sort_after_vector_search_optimization.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ec2785a652a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jstests/with_mongot/e2e/sort_after_vector_search_optimization.js
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/**
+ * Test an aggregation pipeline optimization where a $sort stage can be removed after
+ * a $vectorSearch stage, given that the $sort is on the same criteria that the $vectorSearch
+ * results are sorted by (the 'vectorSearchScore') .
+ *
+ * Also, this test should only run in single-node environments because a $sort after a $vectorSearch
+ * in a sharded cluster will end up with the $vectorSearch on mongod and $sort on mongos.
+ *
+ * @tags: [featureFlagSearchHybridScoringPrerequisites, assumes_against_mongod_not_mongos]
+ */
+
+import {getIndexOfStageOnSingleNode} from "jstests/libs/query/analyze_plan.js";
+import {createSearchIndex, dropSearchIndex} from "jstests/libs/search.js";
+
+// Helper functions to check if optimization being tested for exists:
+
+function assertSortExistsAfterVectorSearch(aggPipeline) {
+    let explain = coll.explain().aggregate(aggPipeline);
+    // $vectorSearch must be the first step of the pipeline
+    assert(
+        getIndexOfStageOnSingleNode(explain, "$vectorSearch") == 0,
+        "'$vectorSearch' is not first step of the pipeline. explain for query: " + tojson(explain));
+    // A $sort stage must exist somewhere in the pipeline after $_internalSearchMongotRemote.
+    assert(getIndexOfStageOnSingleNode(explain, "$sort") > 0,
+           "'$sort' does not exist in the pipeline after $search. explain for query: " +
+               tojson(explain));
+}
+
+function assertNoSortExistsAfterVectorSearch(aggPipeline) {
+    let explain = coll.explain().aggregate(aggPipeline);
+    // $vectorSearch must be the first step of the pipeline
+    assert(
+        getIndexOfStageOnSingleNode(explain, "$vectorSearch") == 0,
+        "'$vectorSearch' is not first step of the pipeline. explain for query: " + tojson(explain));
+    // A $sort stage must not exist somewhere in the pipeline after $_internalSearchMongotRemote.
+    assert(
+        getIndexOfStageOnSingleNode(explain, "$sort") < 0,
+        "'$sort' does exist in the pipeline after $search. explain for query: " + tojson(explain));
+}
+
+const coll = db.foo;
+coll.drop();
+
+assert.commandWorked(coll.insertMany(
+    [{a: -1, v: [1, 0, 8, 1, 8]}, {a: 100, v: [2, -2, 1, 4, 4]}, {a: 10, v: [4, 10, -8, 22, 0]}]));
+
+const indexName = "sort-after-vector-search-test-index";
+// Create vector search index on movie plot embeddings.
+const vectorIndex = {
+    name: indexName,
+    type: "vectorSearch",
+    definition:
+        {"fields": [{"type": "vector", "numDimensions": 5, "path": "v", "similarity": "euclidean"}]}
+};
+
+createSearchIndex(coll, vectorIndex);
+
+const vectorSearchQuery = {
+    queryVector: [2, 4, -8, 2, 10],
+    path: "v",
+    numCandidates: 3,
+    index: indexName,
+    limit: 3,
+};
+
+// Run test cases:
+//
+// Cases where optimization applies and $sort should be removed:
+
+// Standard case where a single sort on 'vectorSearchScore' should be removed.
+assertNoSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}},
+]);
+
+// Multiple sorts in a row should all be removed.
+assertNoSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}},
+    {$limit: 10},
+]);
+
+// Implicit $sort after $vectorSearch from desugared $setWindowFields should get removed.
+assertNoSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$setWindowFields: {sortBy: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}, output: {rank: {$rank: {}}}}}
+]);
+
+// Mixed explicit and implicit $sort after $vectorSearch should both get removed.
+assertNoSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}},
+    {$setWindowFields: {sortBy: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}, output: {rank: {$rank: {}}}}}
+]);
+
+// Cases where optimization should not apply and $sort should remain:
+
+// Explicit $sort that does not sort on 'vectorSearchScore' should not be removed.
+assertSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$sort: {a: 1}},
+]);
+
+// $sort with multi-field criteria on 'vectorSearchScore' and another field should not be removed.
+assertSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}, a: 1}},
+]);
+
+// Currently cannot optimize $sort that is not directly after $vectorSearch.
+// TODO SERVER-96068: check that $sort is removed for these types of pipelines.
+assertSortExistsAfterVectorSearch([
+    {$vectorSearch: vectorSearchQuery},
+    {$limit: 10},
+    {$sort: {score: {$meta: "vectorSearchScore"}}},
+]);
+
+dropSearchIndex(coll, {name: indexName});
diff --git a/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.cpp b/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.cpp
index e9e75536449..355b33d1388 100644
--- a/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.cpp
+++ b/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.h"
 
 #include "mongo/base/string_data.h"
+#include "mongo/db/pipeline/document_source_sort.h"
 #include "mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_internal_search_id_lookup.h"
 #include "mongo/db/pipeline/search/lite_parsed_search.h"
 #include "mongo/db/pipeline/search/vector_search_helper.h"
@@ -260,8 +261,44 @@ std::list<intrusive_ptr<DocumentSource>> DocumentSourceVectorSearch::desugar() {
     return desugaredPipeline;
 }
 
+std::pair<Pipeline::SourceContainer::iterator, bool>
+DocumentSourceVectorSearch::_attemptSortAfterVectorSearchOptimization(
+    Pipeline::SourceContainer::iterator itr, Pipeline::SourceContainer* container) {
+    auto isSortOnVectorSearchMeta = [](const SortPattern& sortPattern) -> bool {
+        return isSortOnSingleMetaField(sortPattern,
+                                       (1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kVectorSearchScore));
+    };
+    auto optItr = std::next(itr);
+    if (optItr != container->end()) {
+        if (auto sortStage = dynamic_cast<DocumentSourceSort*>(optItr->get())) {
+            // A $sort stage has been found directly after this stage.
+            // $vectorSearch results are always sorted by 'vectorSearchScore',
+            // so if the $sort stage is also sorted by 'vectorSearchScore', the $sort stage
+            // is redundant and can safely be removed.
+            if (isSortOnVectorSearchMeta(sortStage->getSortKeyPattern())) {
+                // Optimization successful.
+                container->remove(*optItr);
+                return {itr, true};  // Return the same pointer in case there are other
+                                     // optimizations to still be applied.
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Optimization not possible.
+    return {itr, false};
+}
+
 Pipeline::SourceContainer::iterator DocumentSourceVectorSearch::doOptimizeAt(
     Pipeline::SourceContainer::iterator itr, Pipeline::SourceContainer* container) {
+    // Attempt to remove a $sort on metadata after this $vectorSearch stage.
+    {
+        const auto&& [returnItr, optimizationSucceeded] =
+            _attemptSortAfterVectorSearchOptimization(itr, container);
+        if (optimizationSucceeded) {
+            return returnItr;
+        }
+    }
+
     auto stageItr = std::next(itr);
     // Only attempt to get the limit from the query if there are further stages in the pipeline.
     if (stageItr != container->end()) {
diff --git a/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.h b/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.h
index 860bff9da45..79f5ca600dd 100644
--- a/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.h
+++ b/src/mongo/db/pipeline/search/document_source_vector_search.h
@@ -121,6 +121,23 @@ private:
     // Initialize metrics related to the $vectorSearch stage on the OpDebug object.
     void initializeOpDebugVectorSearchMetrics();
 
+    /**
+     * Attempts a pipeline optimization that removes a $sort stage that comes after the output of
+     * of mongot, if the resulting documents from mongot are sorted by the same criteria as the
+     * $sort ('vectorSearchScore').
+     *
+     * Also, this optimization only applies to cases where the $sort comes directly after this
+     * stage.
+     * TODO SERVER-96068 generalize this optimization to cases where any number of stages that
+     * preserve sort order come between this stage and the sort.
+     *
+     * Returns a pair of the iterator to return to the optimizer, and a bool of whether or not the
+     * optimization was successful. If optimization was successful, the container will be modified
+     * appropriately.
+     */
+    std::pair<Pipeline::SourceContainer::iterator, bool> _attemptSortAfterVectorSearchOptimization(
+        Pipeline::SourceContainer::iterator itr, Pipeline::SourceContainer* container);
+
     std::unique_ptr<MatchExpression> _filterExpr;
 
     std::shared_ptr<executor::TaskExecutor> _taskExecutor;
diff --git a/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.cpp b/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.cpp
index 23f63b98ae3..488d5001b1d 100644
--- a/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.cpp
+++ b/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.cpp
@@ -198,4 +198,31 @@ bool SortPattern::isExtensionOf(const SortPattern& other) const {
     }
     return true;
 }
+
+bool isSortOnSingleMetaField(const SortPattern& sortPattern,
+                             QueryMetadataBitSet metadataToConsider) {
+    // Exactly 1 expression in the sort pattern is needed.
+    if (sortPattern.begin() == sortPattern.end() ||
+        std::next(sortPattern.begin()) != sortPattern.end()) {
+        // 0 parts, or more than 1 part.
+        return false;
+    }
+    const auto& firstAndOnlyPart = *sortPattern.begin();
+    if (auto* expr = firstAndOnlyPart.expression.get()) {
+        if (auto metaExpr = dynamic_cast<ExpressionMeta*>(expr)) {
+            if (metadataToConsider.none()) {
+                // Any metadata field.
+                return true;
+            }
+            for (std::size_t i = 1; i < DocumentMetadataFields::kNumFields; ++i) {
+                if (metadataToConsider[i] &&
+                    metaExpr->getMetaType() == static_cast<DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType>(i)) {
+                    return true;
+                }
+            }
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
 }  // namespace mongo
diff --git a/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.h b/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.h
index 1cc6d4a4ab9..cca706a07a0 100644
--- a/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.h
+++ b/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.h
@@ -172,4 +172,17 @@ private:
     // The set of paths on which we're sorting.
     OrderedPathSet _paths;
 };
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if 'sortPattern' represents a sort pattern on a single metadata field like:
+ * {score: {$meta: "searchScore"}}.
+ *
+ * Sort clause must only be on a single field, i.e. {score: {$meta: "searchScore"}, _id: 1} will
+ * return false.
+ *
+ * The 'metadataToConsider' field represents a bitset of all possible metadata fields to consider
+ * the sort is on. If the bitset is empty, any metadata will be considered.
+ */
+bool isSortOnSingleMetaField(const SortPattern& sortPattern,
+                             QueryMetadataBitSet metadataToConsider = QueryMetadataBitSet{});
 }  // namespace mongo
diff --git a/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern_test.cpp b/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern_test.cpp
index 082ca6c9ca1..57b4beba9f5 100644
--- a/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern_test.cpp
+++ b/src/mongo/db/query/sort_pattern_test.cpp
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@
 #include "mongo/base/string_data.h"
 #include "mongo/bson/json.h"
 #include "mongo/db/exec/document_value/document.h"
+#include "mongo/db/exec/document_value/document_metadata_fields.h"
 #include "mongo/db/exec/document_value/document_value_test_util.h"
 #include "mongo/db/namespace_string.h"
 #include "mongo/db/pipeline/expression.h"
 #include "mongo/db/pipeline/expression_context_for_test.h"
 #include "mongo/db/query/sort_pattern.h"
+#include "mongo/idl/server_parameter_test_util.h"
 #include "mongo/unittest/assert.h"
 #include "mongo/unittest/framework.h"
 
@@ -125,5 +127,63 @@ TEST(SortStageDefaultTest, WrongSortKeyDefinition) {
     ASSERT_THROWS_CODE(SortPattern(std::move(sortKeys)), AssertionException, 7472501);
 }
 
+// Testing expected behavior of 'isSortOnSingleMetaField()' stateless function.
+TEST(IsSortOnSingleMetaFieldTest, TestingIsSortOnSingleMetaFieldFn) {
+    RAIIServerParameterControllerForTest searchHybridScoringPrerequisitesController(
+        "featureFlagSearchHybridScoringPrerequisites", true);
+
+    auto expCtx = getExpCtx();
+
+    // SortPattern must have a field.
+    ASSERT_FALSE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(SortPattern(fromjson("{}"), expCtx)));
+
+    // SortPattern must have one field, but it must be a metadata field.
+    ASSERT_FALSE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(SortPattern(fromjson("{a: 1}"), expCtx)));
+
+    // SortPattern cannot have multiple fields.
+    ASSERT_FALSE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(SortPattern(fromjson("{a: 1, b: 1}"), expCtx)));
+
+    // SortPattern on a single metadata field, without QueryMetadataBitSet specified should pass for
+    // any valid metadata.
+    ASSERT_TRUE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(
+        SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'vectorSearchScore'}}"), expCtx)));
+
+    // SortPattern on invalid metadata type should throw.
+    ASSERT_THROWS_CODE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(
+                           SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'notRealMetadata'}}"), expCtx)),
+                       DBException,
+                       31138);
+
+    // SortPattern on valid metadata, but with multiple fields should be false.
+    ASSERT_FALSE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(
+        SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'vectorSearchScore'}, a: 1}"), expCtx)));
+
+    // Explicitly specifying the metadata to consider, matching the metadata in the SortPattern
+    // should pass.
+    ASSERT_TRUE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(
+        SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'vectorSearchScore'}}"), expCtx),
+        (1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kVectorSearchScore)));
+
+    // Explicitly specifying the metadata to consider, that does not match the metadata in the
+    // SortPattern should fail.
+    ASSERT_FALSE(
+        isSortOnSingleMetaField(SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'searchScore'}}"), expCtx),
+                                (1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kVectorSearchScore)));
+
+    // Explicitly specifying multiple metadata to consider, one of them matching the meatada in the
+    // SortPattern should pass.
+    ASSERT_TRUE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(
+        SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'vectorSearchScore'}}"), expCtx),
+        ((1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kSearchScore) |
+         (1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kVectorSearchScore))));
+
+    // Explicitly specifying multiple metadata to consider, neither of them matching the meatada in
+    // the SortPattern should fail.
+    ASSERT_FALSE(isSortOnSingleMetaField(
+        SortPattern(fromjson("{score: {$meta: 'vectorSearchScore'}}"), expCtx),
+        ((1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kSearchScore) |
+         (1 << DocumentMetadataFields::MetaType::kScore))));
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 }  // namespace mongo