Optometrists pay in California
$147,420avg. a year
$70.87 an hour · 6,890 employed
Optometrists in California earn an average of $147,420 a year. That is $5,870 (4%) more than the U.S. average of $141,550. The best-paying metro area is Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA at $172,860.
$136,300Median pay
$70.87Average hourly
+8%Avg. pay since 2020
#15Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for optometrists by metro area. Swipe to see all 19.
180 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$172,860
$83.10 an hour
290 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$167,000
$80.29 an hour
3580 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$156,180
$75.09 an hour
4510 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$154,040
$74.06 an hour
530 jobs
Chico, CA
$152,250
$73.20 an hour
61,180 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$152,140
$73.14 an hour
790 jobs
Modesto, CA
$149,020
$71.65 an hour
870 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$144,230
$69.34 an hour
9540 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$143,630
$69.05 an hour
102,360 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$143,560
$69.02 an hour
1130 jobs
Visalia, CA
$143,450
$68.96 an hour
12120 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$143,020
$68.76 an hour
13100 jobs
Fresno, CA
$142,470
$68.49 an hour
14100 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$140,940
$67.76 an hour
15510 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$140,890
$67.74 an hour
1660 jobs
Salinas, CA
$137,560
$66.13 an hour
1730 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$137,550
$66.13 an hour
1850 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$136,250
$65.51 an hour
1950 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$130,520
$62.75 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Optometrists pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California optometrists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $128k$128k–$141k$141k–$149k$149k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $141,550 | $68.05 |
| California | $147,420 | $70.87 |
| Nevada | $137,020 | $65.88 |
| Arizona | $135,280 | $65.04 |
| Oregon | $127,920 | $61.50 |
Related jobs in California
- Registered Nurses$150,280
- Physicians, All Other$249,620
- Nurse Practitioners$176,760
- Pharmacists$162,340
- Physical Therapists$122,580
- Dental Hygienists$128,110
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do optometrists make in California?
The average is $147,420 a year, and the median is $136,300. That is $5,870 (4%) more than the U.S. average of $141,550.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$70.87 an hour on average; the median is $65.53.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($172,860), followed by Vallejo, CA ($167,000). The lowest average among 19 metro areas with data is Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($130,520).
How does California rank?
California ranks #15 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 29-1041. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national optometrists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.