California Median
$136,300
per year
Hourly Rate
$65.53
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+-0% vs US median
US median $136,570
State Rank
#22 of 51
6,890 employed here
How much does an Optometrist make in California?
An Optometrist working in California earns a median salary of $136,300 per year, or about $65.53 per hour. That is 0% above the national median of $136,570 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $99,890 while the top 10% make $213,710 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $122,960 and $166,300 a year.
Optometrist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,890 | $48.02 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $122,960 | $59.12 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $136,300 | $65.53 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $166,300 | $79.95 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,710 | $102.75 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 22nd out of 51 states and territories for Optometrist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Optometrist salary in other states
Alaska $170,310Maryland $165,840North Carolina $161,560Delaware $161,270New York $161,140New Jersey $159,040Minnesota $158,700Washington $157,560Hawaii $154,620Maine $154,110Colorado $152,000Massachusetts $151,730Florida $151,670Connecticut $150,340South Carolina $145,950Illinois $145,620Alabama $145,090New Mexico $144,660Wisconsin $139,720Kansas $138,580Vermont $137,290Michigan $135,650Nevada $135,650Indiana $135,500Pennsylvania $135,400Ohio $134,850District of Columbia $134,840Rhode Island $134,520Tennessee $134,170Missouri $133,810North Dakota $132,110Oregon $132,020Virginia $131,570Kentucky $128,860Georgia $128,830Texas $126,000New Hampshire $125,560Iowa $125,380Nebraska $125,040Arkansas $124,470Arizona $122,250Utah $119,070Louisiana $118,060West Virginia $118,010Wyoming $111,400Mississippi $108,070Montana $104,280Idaho $103,390South Dakota $102,320Oklahoma $97,350
Working as an Optometrist in California
Nationally, about 43,000 people work as Optometrists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($136,300) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Optometrist make in California?
The median Optometrist salary in California is $136,300 per year, or about $65.53 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $99,890 at the entry level to $213,710 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Optometrists about 0% more than the national median of $136,570. California ranks 22nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Optometrists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $136,300 a year. About 6,890 Optometrists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Optometrist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.