Optometrist salary in California
What optometrists earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$136,300$65.53 per hour
vs U.S.−0%U.S. median $136,570
Middle half earn$122,960 – $166,300Top 10%: $213,710+
Jobs6,8901.37× the U.S. concentration
Optometrist pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $138,940 | $66.80 | 2,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,580 | $68.55 | 1,180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,330 | $65.06 | 580 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $133,280 | $64.08 | 540 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,990 | $62.50 | 510 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,020 | $66.84 | 510 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,150 | $62.09 | 120 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $129,370 | $62.20 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $136,730 | $65.74 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $137,480 | $66.09 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | $155,950 | $74.97 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $165,360 | $79.50 | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $132,390 | $63.65 | 70 |
| Salinas, CA | $133,350 | $64.11 | 60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $122,150 | $58.73 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $140,160 | $67.39 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $139,890 | $67.26 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $129,020 | $62.03 | 30 |
| Visalia, CA | $135,160 | $64.98 | 30 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $129,420 | $62.22 | 30 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $122,610 | $58.95 | 30 |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Optometrist pay in similar states
Vermont · $137,290 Michigan · $135,650 Nevada · $135,650 Indiana · $135,500 Pennsylvania · $135,400 Ohio · $134,850
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $79,750 Dental Assistants · $50,110 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590
Questions
How much does an optometrist make in California?
Optometrists in California earned a median of $136,300 a year ($65.53 an hour) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $136,570. The middle half earned $122,960 to $166,300.
Where in California do optometrists earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA at $165,360.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.