Optometrist salary in California
Optometrists in California earn a median of $136,300 a year ($65.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,890 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,710 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $136,570. California ranks 22nd of 51 states for optometrists pay. There are 0.38 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $147,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for optometrists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,890 | $48.02 |
| 25th percentile | $122,960 | $59.12 |
| Median | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| 75th percentile | $166,300 | $79.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,710 | $102.74 |
| Average (mean) | $147,420 | $70.87 |
Half of optometrists 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 | $11,358.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,679.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,242.31 |
| Weekly | $2,621.15 |
| Hourly | $65.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $165,360 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $155,950 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,580 | 1,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $140,160 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $139,890 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,020 | 510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $138,940 | 2,360 |
| Modesto, CA | $137,480 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $136,730 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,330 | 580 |
| Visalia, CA | $135,160 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $133,350 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $133,280 | 540 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $132,390 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,990 | 510 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $129,370 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,150 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $129,020 | 30 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,150 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for optometrists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 |
| Maryland | $165,840 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 |
| Delaware | $161,270 |
| New York | $161,140 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,560 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 |
| Maine | $154,110 |
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 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 | $102.95 |
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 29-1041. 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 optometrist make in California?
The median salary for optometrists in California is $136,300 a year, or $65.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in California?
The top 10% of optometrists in California earn at least $213,710 a year. The top 25% earn $166,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,890 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $122,960 or less.
How many optometrists work in California?
About 6,890 optometrists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.