Salary · CA · SOC 29-1041

Optometrist salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for optometrists in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for optometrists in California was $136,300 a year, or $65.53 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $99,890 to $213,710. About 6,890 were employed.

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Optometrist pay in California vs the US

Optometrist wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$136,300	$65.53	$136,570
Mean (average)	$147,420	$70.87	$141,550
10th percentile	$99,890	$48.02	$74,870
25th percentile	$122,960	$59.12	$109,400
75th percentile	$166,300	$79.95	$165,120
90th percentile	$213,710	$102.74	$202,180

Employment in California: 6,890. Location quotient: 1.37 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Optometrist salary by metro area in California

Optometrist median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$138,940	$66.80	2,360
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$142,580	$68.55	1,180
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$135,330	$65.06	580
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$133,280	$64.08	540
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$129,990	$62.50	510
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$139,020	$66.84	510
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$129,150	$62.09	120
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$129,370	$62.20	100
Fresno, CA	$136,730	$65.74	100
Modesto, CA	$137,480	$66.09	90
Vallejo, CA	$155,950	$74.97	90
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$165,360	$79.50	80
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$132,390	$63.65	70
Salinas, CA	$133,350	$64.11	60
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$122,150	$58.73	50
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$140,160	$67.39	50
Chico, CA	$139,890	$67.26	30
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$129,020	$62.03	30
Visalia, CA	$135,160	$64.98	30

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Optometrist salary in California

Median pay: $136,300 a year ($65.53 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $99,890 to $213,710 a year

Employed: 6,890

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Optometrist salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$136,300</strong> a year ($65.53 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $99,890 to $213,710 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 6,890</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optometrist/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optometrist make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $65.53 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $48.02 and the 90th was $102.74.

What is the average Optometrist salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $147,420 a year and a median of $136,300 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do optometrists in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $136,300 is 0% lower than the US median of $136,570 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for optometrist pay?

California ranks 22 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for optometrists (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1041. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.