Optometrists pay in California
In California, the median pay for optometrists is $65.53 an hour ($136,300 a year). About 6,890 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($136,570). California ranks 22nd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for optometrists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $48.02 | $99,890 |
| 25% of workers | $59.12 | $122,960 |
| Half of workers (median) | $65.53 | $136,300 |
| 75% of workers | $79.95 | $166,300 |
| 90% of workers | $102.74 | $213,710 |
Optometrists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $165,360 | 80 |
| Vallejo | $155,950 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $142,580 | 1,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $140,160 | 50 |
| Chico | $139,890 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $139,020 | 510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $138,940 | 2,360 |
| Modesto | $137,480 | 90 |
| Fresno | $136,730 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $135,330 | 580 |
| Visalia | $135,160 | 30 |
| Salinas | $133,350 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $133,280 | 540 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $132,390 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $129,990 | 510 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $129,370 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $129,150 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $129,020 | 30 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $122,150 | 50 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for optometrists
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +9.5% over ten years, much faster than average · about 2,000 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Chiropractors | $75,470 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $54,490 |
| Neurologists | $357,080 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $400,150 |
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Pharmacists | $164,610 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.