Optometrist Salary in Redwood City, CA: $136,292 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Redwood City, CA earns a median $136,292/year (≈ $65.52/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Redwood City's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $120,506 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the optometrist salary in Redwood City, California, is projected to reach $136,292, illustrating a competitive market for those in the field. This figure falls below the national median of $140,612, indicating a local salary that represents a nuanced compensation landscape influenced by various practice settings. With a salary range spanning from $79,050 at the P10 to $201,714 at the P90, the disparities in pay reflect the complexity of optometric practice, particularly in surgical co-management models, where revenue-sharing agreements with ophthalmologists can enhance earnings substantially. Local estimates, derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional price parities, emphasize the unique economic conditions that shape optometrist pay in Redwood City, CA.
About the Redwood City Market
Salary estimated from California average ($160,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $79,050 | $38.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $107,680 | $51.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $136,292 | $65.52 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $165,668 | $79.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $201,714 | $96.98 |
Median Salary Position
3.07% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Redwood City
In Redwood City, CA, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $122,664 (2026 est.). At $136,292, the local median is 3.07% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Redwood City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Redwood City Optometrist Pay Compares
Redwood City median: $136,292/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Redwood City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $139,358 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $140,612 | -3.07% less |
Optometrists in Redwood City, CA earn a median of $136,292 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.07% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 2.20% below the California state average of $139,358.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Redwood City has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Redwood City, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $136,292 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $120,506 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$111,709
2025 BLS Actual
$132,374
2026 Current Est.
$136,292
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Redwood City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,709 | Actual |
| 2020 | $114,423 | Actual |
| 2021 | $120,481 | Actual |
| 2022 | $121,731 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,809 | Actual |
| 2024 | $177,008 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,374 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $136,292 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $140,327 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Redwood City metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $111,709 (2019) to $132,374 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $140,327 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,618 (25.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Redwood City 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) | $79,050 – $107,680 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $107,680 – $136,292 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $136,292 – $165,668 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $165,668 – $201,714 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Redwood City
The local job market for optometrists is relatively modest, with only 13 professionals currently employed in the area. This limited number may be attributed to the city's higher cost of living index of 113.1, suggesting a need for salaries to stretch further for recruitment and retention. Among the employers, those in the OD/MD model and private practices often pay more compared to retail optical chains like LensCrafters and Walmart Vision. The gap in compensation can be driven by factors such as practice ownership, which may offer equity opportunities, or specialized residency training, which can command higher starting wages. Maximizing pay in Redwood City requires strategic positioning, possibly by pursuing surgical co-management roles or engaging in extensive networking to access high-value private practices. Understanding the local dynamics of optometrist pay is essential for ODs looking to thrive in this market.
More salary data for Redwood City, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make in Redwood City, CA in 2026?
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Can optometrists make $100K in Redwood City?
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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 $132,374 for optometristsin the Redwood City 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 Redwood City 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