Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary in California
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric in California earn a median of $400,150 a year ($192.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $499,330 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $300,080. California ranks 3rd of 34 states for ophthalmologists, except pediatric pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 ophthalmologists, except pediatric per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $347,690, close to the median.
Pay range for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,040 | $47.61 |
| 25th percentile | $186,200 | $89.52 |
| Median | $400,150 | $192.38 |
| 75th percentile | $433,530 | $208.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $499,330 | $240.06 |
| Average (mean) | $347,690 | $167.16 |
Half of ophthalmologists, except pediatric earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $33,345.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $16,672.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $15,390.38 |
| Weekly | $7,695.19 |
| Hourly | $192.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $700,850 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $433,520 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $429,080 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for ophthalmologists, except pediatric
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $450,370 |
| New Hampshire | $404,330 |
| California | $400,150 |
| Florida | $399,440 |
| Iowa | $394,900 |
| Georgia | $382,920 |
| Minnesota | $372,200 |
| New York | $360,050 |
| Nevada | $345,600 |
| Maine | $337,850 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1241. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ophthalmologists, except pediatric make in California?
The median salary for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in California is $400,150 a year, or $192.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $499,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmologists, except pediatric make in California?
The top 10% of ophthalmologists, except pediatric in California earn at least $499,330 a year. The top 25% earn $433,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,040 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmologists, except pediatric earn $186,200 or less.
How many ophthalmologists, except pediatric work in California?
About 820 ophthalmologists, except pediatric are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.