Optometrist Salary in California: $141,562 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median optometrist pay sits at $141,562/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1041. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $125,165 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Santa Rosa ($165,360), Petaluma ($163,779), Vallejo ($155,950).

Optometrist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California optometrist salary overview (2026)

$141,562

Avg Median Salary

$68.06

Avg Hourly Rate

9,659

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In 2026, optometrists in California are projected to earn an average median salary of $141,562, slightly above the national median of $140,612, marking a difference of 0.7%. The highest paying city for optometrists in the state is Santa Rosa, with salaries reaching $170,255, while Santa Cruz offers the lowest at $125,766. This salary gap of $44,489 can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for services, and variations in the local healthcare market. California's optometrists must navigate specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws, which can affect job responsibilities and compensation. The demand for eye care specialists continues to grow, driven by an aging population and increased awareness of vision health. The projected annual growth rate for employment in this field in California is 2.96%, indicating a steady need for qualified optometrists. Employment figures show that there are 9,659 optometrists currently working in the state, with significant earning potential in key areas. Other top-paying cities include Petaluma at $168,627, Vallejo at $160,566, Oakland at $150,141, and Santa Ana at $147,631. This positive job market outlook reflects both the essential services provided by optometrists and the evolving landscape of vision care in California.

California Optometrist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$93,847

avg across 157 cities

Median

$141,562

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$215,421

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $75,717 (lowest entry-level) to $343,413 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$141,562

National Median

$140,612

California optometrists earn 0.68% more than the national median (+$950/year difference).

California Optometrist Salary Distribution (2026)

Optometrist salaries in California range from $93,847 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $215,421 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $141,562. The California median is $950 above the US national median of $140,612. The average hourly rate is $68.06/hr. Approximately 9,659 optometrists are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$128,969

2025 BLS Actual

$137,492

2026 Current Est.

$141,562

2019–2027 Growth

+13.0%

Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$128,969	Actual
2020	$137,360	Actual
2021	$127,022	Actual
2022	$124,775	Actual
2023	$134,581	Actual
2024	$154,744	Actual
2025	$137,492	Actual
2026(current)	$141,562	Estimated
2027	$145,752	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 6.6% from $128,969 (2019) to $137,492 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,752 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,783 (13.01%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.96% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Santa Rosa

80 employed · $81.85/hr

$170,255

+20.27% vs avg

Petaluma

12 employed · $81.07/hr

$168,627

+19.12% vs avg

Vallejo

90 employed · $77.19/hr

$160,566

+13.42% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $72.19/hr

$150,141

+6.06% vs avg

Santa Ana

69 employed · $70.98/hr

$147,631

+4.29% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Santa Cruz	$125,766	-11.16%	$60.47
Brea	$132,199	-6.61%	$63.56
Thousand Oaks	$132,435	-6.45%	$63.67
San Luis Obispo	$132,839	-6.16%	$63.87
Oxnard	$132,973	-6.07%	$63.93

Best Value Cities for Optometrists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for optometrists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Santa Rosa	$170,255	107.784	$157,959
Petaluma	$168,627	113.1	$149,095
Vallejo	$160,566	108.479	$148,016
Chico	$144,031	101.197	$142,327
Visalia	$139,161	99.825	$139,405

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$93,847	$45.12	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$141,562	$68.06	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$215,421	$103.57	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Santa Rosa	$170,255	$81.85	$125,930	$234,512	80
2	Petaluma	$168,627	$81.07	$97,804	$250,919	12
3	Vallejo	$160,566	$77.19	$127,434	$228,427	90
4	Oakland	$150,141	$72.19	$87,083	$232,719	78
5	Santa Ana	$147,631	$70.98	$85,626	$226,197	69
6	Fremont	$146,830	$70.59	$85,161	$227,587	43
7	San Francisco	$146,800	$70.58	$110,970	$227,902	1,180
8	Anaheim	$145,599	$70.00	$84,448	$225,651	51
9	Fontana	$144,900	$69.66	$84,042	$222,085	32
10	Irvine	$144,740	$69.59	$83,949	$224,347	72
11	Santa Maria	$144,309	$69.38	$105,987	$170,646	50
12	Folsom	$144,103	$69.28	$83,580	$209,977	17
13	Pomona	$144,034	$69.25	$83,540	$213,628	36
14	Chico	$144,031	$69.25	$101,776	$343,413	30
15	Simi Valley	$143,955	$69.21	$83,493	$218,326	23
16	Escondido	$143,921	$69.19	$83,474	$212,849	31
17	Fairfield	$143,662	$69.07	$83,324	$211,928	25
18	Long Beach	$143,527	$69.00	$83,246	$222,468	89
19	Sacramento	$143,135	$68.82	$108,993	$225,554	510
20	Fullerton	$143,133	$68.82	$83,017	$215,749	25
21	Los Angeles	$143,053	$68.78	$75,717	$215,732	2,360
22	Daly City	$143,009	$68.76	$82,946	$209,984	20
23	El Monte	$142,964	$68.74	$82,919	$215,144	20
24	Vista	$142,885	$68.69	$82,874	$214,488	24
25	Concord	$142,851	$68.67	$82,854	$214,741	29
26	Clovis	$142,638	$68.57	$82,729	$208,297	19
27	Sunnyvale	$142,608	$68.56	$82,713	$216,818	26
28	Roseville	$142,545	$68.53	$82,676	$217,537	35
29	Garden Grove	$142,491	$68.51	$82,645	$213,456	37
30	Temecula	$142,458	$68.49	$82,625	$208,035	25
31	Santa Clarita	$142,362	$68.45	$82,570	$220,661	41
32	Lancaster	$142,175	$68.36	$82,462	$220,371	40
33	Inglewood	$142,175	$68.36	$82,462	$220,371	21
34	Corona	$141,995	$68.26	$82,358	$220,092	24
35	Richmond	$141,974	$68.25	$82,344	$211,615	25
36	Rialto	$141,906	$68.22	$82,305	$211,374	17
37	Torrance	$141,725	$68.14	$82,201	$219,674	26
38	Santa Clara	$141,671	$68.11	$82,169	$208,181	32
39	Modesto	$141,549	$68.05	$108,736	$214,332	90
40	Elk Grove	$141,456	$68.01	$82,045	$209,411	25
41	Oceanside	$141,422	$67.99	$82,024	$209,199	28
42	Whittier	$141,380	$67.97	$82,000	$205,625	22
43	San Rafael	$141,369	$67.96	$81,994	$205,496	11
44	Rancho Cucamonga	$141,242	$67.90	$81,920	$208,656	46
45	Hayward	$141,162	$67.87	$81,874	$217,524	23
46	Woodland	$141,126	$67.85	$81,853	$209,885	15
47	Buena Park	$141,104	$67.84	$81,840	$205,020	20
48	Encinitas	$141,093	$67.83	$81,834	$204,621	16
49	Downey	$141,084	$67.83	$81,828	$217,610	22
50	Dublin	$141,005	$67.79	$81,783	$204,673	14
51	Redlands	$140,960	$67.77	$81,757	$209,661	16
52	Chino	$140,883	$67.74	$81,712	$203,888	17
53	Westminster	$140,839	$67.71	$81,686	$209,232	21
54	Santa Monica	$140,828	$67.71	$81,680	$203,695	20
55	San Mateo	$140,813	$67.70	$81,672	$216,274	21
56	Fresno	$140,777	$67.69	$103,742	$218,811	100
57	Tulare	$140,773	$67.68	$81,648	$203,504	17
58	San Buenaventura	$140,724	$67.66	$81,619	$216,320	19
59	Mission Viejo	$140,630	$67.61	$81,565	$203,365	23
60	Moreno Valley	$140,628	$67.61	$81,564	$216,600	53
61	Pleasanton	$140,607	$67.60	$81,553	$208,055	16
62	Pasadena	$140,409	$67.50	$81,437	$214,827	35
63	Santee	$140,310	$67.46	$81,380	$202,249	9
64	Glendale	$140,183	$67.40	$81,306	$214,391	36
65	Mountain View	$140,111	$67.36	$81,264	$201,560	13
66	Pittsburg	$140,100	$67.36	$81,258	$206,632	19
67	Novato	$140,055	$67.34	$81,232	$201,010	11
68	Costa Mesa	$140,003	$67.30	$81,201	$213,749	23
69	Berkeley	$139,857	$67.24	$81,117	$204,168	23
70	Huntington Beach	$139,823	$67.22	$81,097	$216,726	50
71	Jurupa Valley	$139,699	$67.16	$81,025	$212,306	24
72	Hemet	$139,658	$67.14	$81,002	$199,993	14
73	Union City	$139,648	$67.14	$80,996	$199,956	11
74	West Covina	$139,631	$67.13	$80,986	$211,974	25
75	Chino Hills	$139,592	$67.11	$80,964	$204,477	21
76	Gilroy	$139,393	$67.02	$80,848	$213,017	10
77	San Jose	$139,336	$66.99	$138,347	$213,869	580
78	San Marcos	$139,316	$66.98	$80,803	$212,743	17
79	Tustin	$139,195	$66.92	$80,733	$203,471	18
80	San Ramon	$139,183	$66.91	$80,727	$203,076	19
81	Visalia	$139,161	$66.90	$121,894	$181,343	30
82	Eastvale	$139,052	$66.85	$80,650	$202,617	10
83	Murrieta	$139,046	$66.85	$80,647	$209,997	25
84	Vacaville	$139,046	$66.85	$80,647	$215,522	15
85	Brentwood	$138,986	$66.82	$80,612	$211,571	13
86	Hesperia	$138,919	$66.79	$80,573	$211,336	14
87	Lake Elsinore	$138,908	$66.78	$80,567	$210,942	18
88	Citrus Heights	$138,731	$66.70	$80,464	$201,861	19
89	El Cajon	$138,607	$66.64	$80,392	$208,813	18
90	San Clemente	$138,566	$66.62	$80,369	$209,735	10
91	Bellflower	$138,511	$66.59	$80,337	$209,896	11
92	Palmdale	$138,449	$66.56	$80,301	$213,049	29
93	La Mirada	$138,448	$66.56	$80,300	$195,170	10
94	Apple Valley	$138,423	$66.55	$80,285	$200,437	19
95	Menifee	$138,381	$66.53	$80,261	$208,021	20
96	Yucaipa	$138,323	$66.50	$80,227	$209,234	14
97	Norwalk	$138,314	$66.50	$80,222	$207,424	22
98	Yuba City	$138,257	$66.47	$80,189	$200,220	10
99	Rancho Cordova	$138,191	$66.44	$80,150	$208,416	20
100	Montebello	$138,058	$66.38	$80,074	$208,304	16
101	Compton	$138,003	$66.35	$80,042	$198,992	25
102	Porterville	$137,904	$66.30	$79,984	$199,002	11
103	Lompoc	$137,886	$66.30	$79,974	$193,264	8
104	Hawthorne	$137,672	$66.19	$79,850	$198,205	13
105	Antioch	$137,628	$66.16	$79,824	$210,145	17
106	Burbank	$137,616	$66.16	$79,818	$205,344	22
107	Redding	$137,396	$66.06	$79,690	$205,986	13
108	Chula Vista	$137,385	$66.05	$79,683	$208,582	51
109	Napa	$137,363	$66.04	$80,378	$205,871	17
110	Salinas	$137,297	$66.01	$110,836	$169,071	60
111	Alhambra	$137,297	$66.01	$80,234	$205,640	13
112	Livermore	$137,297	$66.01	$79,632	$205,640	21
113	Orange	$137,256	$65.99	$79,609	$204,089	21
114	South Gate	$137,253	$65.99	$79,607	$205,486	25
115	San Diego	$137,225	$65.98	$105,277	$214,342	540
116	Victorville	$137,222	$65.98	$79,589	$203,614	30
117	West Sacramento	$137,176	$65.95	$79,562	$205,217	9
118	Poway	$137,140	$65.94	$79,541	$191,090	8
119	San Leandro	$136,954	$65.84	$79,434	$209,092	23
120	Indio	$136,800	$65.77	$79,344	$203,910	23
121	Lake Forest	$136,800	$65.77	$79,344	$203,910	14
122	Carson	$136,558	$65.66	$79,204	$208,050	21
123	Rocklin	$136,535	$65.64	$79,191	$207,972	10
124	Stockton	$136,309	$65.53	$108,407	$218,347	70
125	Newport Beach	$136,304	$65.53	$79,056	$202,189	12
126	Redwood City	$136,292	$65.52	$79,050	$201,714	13
127	Turlock	$136,259	$65.51	$79,030	$206,658	17
128	Manteca	$136,215	$65.49	$79,004	$201,883	13
129	Perris	$136,205	$65.48	$78,999	$201,846	12
130	Madera	$136,094	$65.43	$78,934	$201,116	8
131	Carlsbad	$136,078	$65.42	$78,925	$206,869	23
132	Baldwin Park	$135,852	$65.32	$78,794	$200,280	19
133	Palo Alto	$135,852	$65.32	$78,794	$205,583	15
134	Lakewood	$135,796	$65.29	$78,761	$200,436	19
135	Ontario	$135,642	$65.21	$78,672	$203,460	42
136	Hanford	$135,520	$65.15	$78,602	$199,054	10
137	Beaumont	$135,399	$65.09	$78,531	$199,070	9
138	Merced	$135,377	$65.08	$78,518	$198,995	20
139	Tracy	$135,366	$65.08	$78,512	$198,610	14
140	Alameda	$135,321	$65.06	$78,486	$203,395	12
141	Laguna Niguel	$135,288	$65.04	$78,467	$203,627	16
142	Milpitas	$135,223	$65.01	$78,429	$203,052	16
143	Camarillo	$134,935	$64.88	$78,262	$197,482	13
144	Oakley	$134,880	$64.84	$78,230	$196,649	8
145	Davis	$134,847	$64.83	$78,212	$196,748	14
146	Upland	$134,748	$64.78	$78,154	$201,757	18
147	La Habra	$134,549	$64.69	$78,039	$200,641	16
148	Lynwood	$134,494	$64.66	$78,007	$195,975	16
149	Lodi	$134,428	$64.63	$77,969	$198,460	14
150	San Bernardino	$134,003	$64.42	$77,722	$207,705	33
151	Riverside	$133,838	$64.35	$107,253	$212,437	510
152	Bakersfield	$133,199	$64.04	$102,939	$202,831	100
153	Oxnard	$132,973	$63.93	$106,862	$209,802	120
154	San Luis Obispo	$132,839	$63.87	$109,930	$170,306	30
155	Thousand Oaks	$132,435	$63.67	$76,812	$202,499	32
156	Brea	$132,199	$63.56	$76,675	$192,002	10
157	Santa Cruz	$125,766	$60.47	$85,426	$169,719	50

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore optometrist hourly pay in California cities.

Santa Rosa →Petaluma →Vallejo →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new optometrists.

Santa Rosa →Petaluma →Vallejo →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced optometrists.

Santa Rosa →Petaluma →Vallejo →

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Explore More Optometrist Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do optometrists make in California in 2026?

The average median optometrist salary in California is $141,562/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $125,766 in Santa Cruz to $170,255 in Santa Rosa. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 0.68% above the national median of $140,612. The state employs approximately 9,659 optometrists.

What is the highest paying city for optometrists in California?

Santa Rosa offers the highest optometrist salary in California at $170,255/year ($81.85/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Santa Rosa ($170,255), Petaluma ($168,627), Vallejo ($160,566). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for optometry services, and competition among employers for licensed optometrists.

How does California optometrist pay compare to the national average?

California's average optometrist salary of $141,562 is 0.68% above the national median of $140,612 in 2026. The state employs approximately 9,659 optometrists across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level optometrist salary in California?

Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $93,847/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $75,717 in lower-paying areas to $138,347 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many optometrists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 9,659 optometrists across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of optometrists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the optometry field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for optometrists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Santa Rosa offers the highest purchasing power for optometrists in California, with an adjusted salary of $157,959 (nominal: $170,255, CoL index: 107.784). This means your dollar goes 7% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Aisha Patel, OD

Career Analyst

Aisha Patel has 10 years of experience in optometry. She specializes in pediatric vision care. Aisha works in a private practice setting.

Clinically reviewed by Rajiv Kumar, ODData verified by Sofia Martinez, OD

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 optometrist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more optometristscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.96%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for optometrists (SOC 29-1041).

Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, OD, a licensed optometrist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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