Optometrists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$99,890
- 25th Percentile — Junior$122,960
- 50th Percentile — Median$136,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$166,300
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$213,710
Half of Optometrists in California earn more than $136,300. The top 10% make $213,710 or more, while entry-level workers start around $99,890.
Optometrists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 15th of 51 states for Optometrists pay, at $147,420 per year (4.1% above the U.S. average of $141,550).
- 6,890 people work as Optometrists in California — 16.1% of all U.S. Optometrists jobs.
- Location quotient 1.37: Optometrists jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $99,890; the top 10% earn over $213,710.
- Hourly equivalent: $70.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $165,120.
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Optometrists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Optometrists here earn $147,420 on average, placing the state 15th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $147,420 is roughly equivalent to $103,817 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Minnesota ($151,450), Hawaii ($149,920), Maryland ($148,910) are the closest alternatives for Optometrists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +113.9% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +110.3% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +92.5% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +85.4% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +84.9% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +73.4% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +71.6% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +69.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Optometrists salary in California?
The average Optometrists salary in California is $147,420 per year (median $136,300), which is 4.1% above the national average of $141,550.
How does California rank for Optometrists pay?
California ranks 15th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($165,120/yr).
How much do entry-level Optometrists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Optometrists in California earn about $99,890 per year and the 25th percentile is $122,960.
How much do Optometrists make per hour in California?
About $70.88 per hour, based on the $147,420 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Optometrists work in California?
BLS counts 6,890 Optometrists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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