Optometrists Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Optometrists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $149,340 a year, or about $71.8 an hour. The range runs from $104K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $135,247 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 39.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $149K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $104K. Mid-career wages sit at $149K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $106K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $166K | +23% | 70 |
| New York | $163K | +21% | 2,500 |
| Maryland | $158K | +17% | 870 |
| Washington | $158K | +17% | 930 |
| Vermont | $156K | +16% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $156K | +16% | 950 |
| New Mexico | $155K | +15% | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $154K | +14% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $154K | +14% | 1,400 |
| Massachusetts | $151K | +12% | 1,120 |
| Minnesota | $150K | +11% | 700 |
| Nevada | $147K | +9% | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $144K | +7% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $143K | +6% | 410 |
| Delaware | $138K | +2% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $138K | +2% | 750 |
| South Carolina | $137K | +2% | 480 |
| California | $137K | +2% | 6,790 |
| Hawaii | $137K | +1% | 230 |
| Illinois | $136K | +1% | 1,670 |
| Arizona | $134K | -0% | 960 |
| Maine | $133K | -1% | 170 |
| Kentucky | $132K | -2% | 500 |
| Michigan | $132K | -2% | 1,330 |
| New Hampshire | $130K | -3% | 200 |
| West Virginia | $130K | -3% | 150 |
| Ohio | $130K | -4% | 1,450 |
| Alabama | $130K | -4% | 470 |
| Georgia | $130K | -4% | 860 |
| Florida | $130K | -4% | 2,280 |
| North Dakota | $129K | -4% | 180 |
| Kansas | $129K | -5% | 460 |
| Texas | $128K | -5% | 3,180 |
| Pennsylvania | $128K | -5% | 1,530 |
| Indiana | $127K | -6% | 960 |
| Utah | $125K | -7% | 410 |
| Louisiana | $120K | -11% | 230 |
| Iowa | $120K | -11% | 460 |
| Oregon | $120K | -11% | 560 |
| South Dakota | $119K | -12% | 200 |
| Nebraska | $117K | -13% | 370 |
| Missouri | $113K | -16% | 660 |
| Tennessee | $111K | -18% | 590 |
| Montana | $109K | -19% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $108K | -20% | 250 |
| Arkansas | $100K | -26% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $99K | -27% | 580 |
| Wyoming | $88K | -34% | 90 |
| Idaho | $67K | -50% | 270 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do optometrists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $149,340 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,000, and experienced optometrists can clear $210,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $149K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,567/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 40.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a optometrists salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $135,247 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do optometrists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.