Optometrist Salary in Visalia, CA: $139,161 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time optometrist in Visalia, CA earns a median $139,161/year (≈ $66.90/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1041). Once you factor in Visalia's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 99.8), that paycheck buys what $139,405 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, optometrists in Visalia, California, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $139,161, which is slightly below the national median of $140,612. The salary range for optometrists in this city spans from $121,894 at the 10th percentile to $181,343 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, reflect the dynamics specific to Visalia's job market where practice ownership, employed associate roles, and retail chain positions influence compensation levels. This city offers a mix of private and corporate environments, providing various pathways for optometrists to manage their financial expectations based on their career choices.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $121,894 | $58.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $133,076 | $63.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $139,161 | $66.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $160,576 | $77.20 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $181,343 | $87.19 |
Median Salary Position
1.03% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Visalia
In Visalia, CA, the optometrist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,449 (2026 est.). At $139,161, the local median is 1.03% below the national median of $140,612.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Visalia: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Visalia Optometrist Pay Compares
Visalia median: $139,161/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Visalia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $139,300 | -0.10% less |
| National Average | $140,612 | -1.03% less |
Optometrists in Visalia, CA earn a median of $139,161 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.03% lower than the national median of $140,612 and 0.10% below the California state average of $139,300.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Visalia has a cost of living 0.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Visalia, CA has a cost-of-living index of 99.825 (below the national average of 100). A optometrist earning $139,161 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $139,405 in an average-cost city — an effective 0.18% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$114,060
2025 BLS Actual
$135,160
2026 Current Est.
$139,161
2019–2027 Growth
+25.6%
Salary Trajectory for Optometrists in Visalia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.96% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $114,060 | Actual |
| 2020 | $116,831 | Actual |
| 2021 | $123,017 | Actual |
| 2022 | $124,293 | Actual |
| 2023 | $130,499 | Actual |
| 2024 | $130,770 | Actual |
| 2025 | $135,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $139,161 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $143,280 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Visalia metropolitan area, the median optometrist salary grew 18.5% from $114,060 (2019) to $135,160 (2025). At a 2.96% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $143,280 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,220 (25.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Visalia 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) | $121,894 – $133,076 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $133,076 – $139,161 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $139,161 – $160,576 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $160,576 – $181,343 |
OD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual optometrist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Optometrist Job Market in Visalia
In terms of employment distribution, Visalia has around 30 optometrists, suggesting a stable local job market despite the national trends of retail chain employment declining as private practices are acquired by larger entities. With a cost-of-living index of 99.825, the purchasing power of an optometrist's salary in Visalia is relatively advantageous compared to the national average, facilitating a decent quality of life. Generally, private optometry practices tend to offer higher pay compared to retail optical chains, particularly for those with residency training or those employed in OD/MD models where shared revenue from surgical referrals can enhance earnings. To maximize earnings in Visalia, optometrists should consider developing skills in high-demand areas such as glaucoma management or ocular disease, as well as exploring roles in military health systems or vision insurance plans that can also pay competitively.
More salary data for Visalia, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make in Visalia, CA in 2026?
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Can optometrists make $100K in Visalia?
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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 $135,160 for optometristsin the Visalia 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). 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