Optometrist Salary in Rancho Cucamonga, CA: $141,242 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Rancho Cucamonga, CA earns a median $141,242/year (≈ $67.90/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Rancho Cucamonga's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $124,882 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% above the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Optometrists practicing in Rancho Cucamonga, California, can anticipate a median annual salary reaching $141,242 in 2026, slightly surpassing the national median of $140,612. While California’s expanded scope of practice, including the management of glaucoma, and the prescribing of oral medications, impacts optometrist compensation levels positively, the salary figures for the area illustrate a broad range from $81,920 at the 10th percentile to $208,656 at the 90th percentile. These estimates are derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price fluctuations, providing a context that reflects both the demand for eye care and the cost of living in Rancho Cucamonga, which indexes above the national average.
About the Rancho Cucamonga Market
Salary estimated from California average ($160,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,920 | $39.38 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $116,169 | $55.85 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $141,242 | $67.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $170,680 | $82.06 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $208,656 | $100.31 |
Median Salary Position
0.45% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rancho Cucamonga
In Rancho Cucamonga, CA, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $126,736 (2026 est.). At $141,242, the local median is 0.45% above the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rancho Cucamonga: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rancho Cucamonga Optometrist Pay Compares
Rancho Cucamonga median: $141,242/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rancho Cucamonga Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $139,291 | +1.40% more |
| National Average | $140,612 | +0.45% more |
Optometrists in Rancho Cucamonga, CA earn a median of $141,242 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.45% higher than the national median of $140,612 and 1.40% above the California state average of $139,291.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rancho Cucamonga has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $141,242 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $124,882 — a 11.58% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$115,766
2025 BLS Actual
$137,181
2026 Current Est.
$141,242
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Rancho Cucamonga (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $115,766 | Actual |
| 2020 | $118,578 | Actual |
| 2021 | $124,856 | Actual |
| 2022 | $126,152 | Actual |
| 2023 | $132,450 | Actual |
| 2024 | $183,435 | Actual |
| 2025 | $137,181 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $141,242 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $145,422 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rancho Cucamonga metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $115,766 (2019) to $137,181 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,422 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,656 (25.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rancho Cucamonga 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $81,920 – $116,169 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $116,169 – $141,242 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $141,242 – $170,680 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $170,680 – $208,656 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Rancho Cucamonga
In this city, the local job market includes 46 optometrists, showcasing a competitive environment. The cost of living index of 113.1 underscores the balance optometrists must find between salary and purchasing power. Among the employers in Rancho Cucamonga, retail optical chains like LensCrafters and Pearle Vision, as well as private practices, tend to offer varied compensation based on operational models. The disparity in optometrist pay is fueled by factors such as ownership equity, models that incorporate both optometry and ophthalmology, and the influence of practice acquisitions by private equity firms. To maximize salary potential, candidates may consider joining practices adhering to the OD/MD model or those that provide robust residency training opportunities in ocular diseases, thereby augmenting their expertise and marketability in the region.
More salary data for Rancho Cucamonga, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make in Rancho Cucamonga, CA in 2026?
Is Rancho Cucamonga, CA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Can optometrists make $100K in Rancho Cucamonga?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted optometrist salary in Rancho Cucamonga?
How much does a optometrist make per hour in Rancho Cucamonga?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $137,181 for optometristsin the Rancho Cucamonga metropolitan area. A 2.96% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Rancho Cucamonga is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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