Optometrist Salary in California
Median annual pay in California
$136,300
$65.53/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in California
$123,103
Regional Price Parity: 110.720 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($136,570): −$270 (−0.2%)
California ranks 22nd of 51 states by median pay, and 42nd of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $99,890 | $48.02 |
| 25th percentile | $122,960 | $59.12 |
| Median | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| 75th percentile | $166,300 | $79.95 |
| 90th percentile | $213,710 | $102.74 |
Employment
- Employment in California
- 6,890
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in California
- $136,300
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $136,570
- Difference
- −$270 (−0.2%)
Cost of living
$136,300 ÷ 110.720 × 100 = $123,103
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | ||
| 20th | $138,580 | $153,862 10th |
| Vermont | ||
| 21st | $137,290 | $140,152 30th |
| California This page | ||
| 22nd | $136,300 | $123,103 42nd |
| Michigan | ||
| 23rd | $135,650 | $140,983 28th |
| Nevada | ||
| 23rd | $135,650 | $135,678 33rd |
Places with the same median share a rank and are listed alphabetically.
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- General Internal Medicine Physician salary in the U.S.
$256,560/year U.S.
- Dermatologist salary in the U.S.
$328,730/year U.S.
- Physicians, All Other salary in California
$281,590/year California
- Neurologist salary in California
$357,080/year California
- Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric salary in California
$253,430/year California
- Ophthalmic Medical Technician salary in the U.S.
$45,570/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +9.5%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- Doctoral or professional degree
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Optometrist salary in nearby places
- Optometrist salary in Arizona
$122,250/year Arizona
- Optometrist salary in Nevada
$135,650/year Nevada
- Optometrist salary in Oregon
$132,020/year Oregon
- Optometrist salary in the U.S.
$136,570/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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