The average salary for an optometrist in California is around $128,190 per year.
Avg Salary
Optometrists earn an average yearly salary of $128,190.
Wages typically start from $78,870 and go up to $169,830.
65% above national average Updated in 2021
Optometrist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$81.65 per hour
$169,830 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$67.19 per hour
$139,760 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$61.63 per hour
$128,190 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$49.10 per hour
$102,140 per year
10th percentile
Starting level optometrist earnings begin at:
$37.92 per hour
$78,870 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Optometrist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $99,510 |
| Utah | $99,510 |
| West Virginia | $97,480 |
| Rhode Island | $96,790 |
| South Carolina | $95,540 |
| Idaho | $78,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,760 |
| District of Columbia | $157,320 |
| Maryland | $134,900 |
| New Jersey | $130,840 |
| North Carolina | $130,070 |
| Alaska | $129,650 |
| New York | $129,520 |
| Arizona | $128,690 |
| Connecticut | $128,320 |
| California | $128,190 |
| Massachusetts | $128,020 |
| Nevada | $127,640 |
| North Dakota | $127,610 |
| Colorado | $127,520 |
| Minnesota | $127,340 |
| Hawaii | $127,270 |
| Oregon | $127,240 |
| Wyoming | $127,240 |
| Maine | $126,520 |
| Missouri | $126,000 |
| Wisconsin | $125,580 |
| Michigan | $124,300 |
| Georgia | $124,090 |
| Nebraska | $123,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $121,580 |
| Washington | $121,570 |
| New Hampshire | $121,530 |
| Vermont | $121,070 |
| Mississippi | $120,910 |
| Virginia | $120,740 |
| Indiana | $120,400 |
| Texas | $118,800 |
| Illinois | $116,260 |
| Louisiana | $106,010 |
| Delaware | $105,060 |
| Iowa | $102,790 |
| New Mexico | $102,650 |
| South Dakota | $102,510 |
| Kentucky | $102,280 |
| Alabama | $102,190 |
| Ohio | $102,000 |
| Kansas | $101,680 |
| Oklahoma | $101,370 |
| Arkansas | $101,340 |
| Tennessee | $100,730 |
| Montana | $100,230 |
How do optometrist salaries compare to similar careers?
Optometrists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than pharmacists but more than acute care nurse practitioners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist salary | $156K |
| Radiation therapist salary | $131K |
| Anesthesiologist assistant salary | $131K |
| Physician assistant salary | $131K |
| Health services manager salary | $126K |
| Optometrist salary | $128K |
| Veterinarian salary | $122K |
| Nuclear medicine technologist salary | $127K |
| Clinical nurse specialist salary | $125K |
| Acute care nurse practitioner salary | $125K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)