Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Stockton-Lodi, CA make a median of $132,390 a year, or about $63.65 an hour. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.09), so that salary is closer to $125,978 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,742/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $132K get you in Stockton-Lodi?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Stockton-Lodi’s Regional Price Parity (105.09). 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.
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Stockton-Lodi
Optometrists pay in Stockton-Lodi tracks closely to the national median, $132K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,742/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.09), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for optometrists in metros near Stockton-Lodi, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $139K | $122K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $143K | $123K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $135K | $123K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $133K | $119K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Stockton-Lodi, CA
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $107K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Optometrists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170K | +25% | 60 |
| Maryland | $166K | +21% | 780 |
| North Carolina | $162K | +18% | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161K | +18% | 190 |
| New York | $161K | +18% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159K | +16% | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $159K | +16% | 710 |
| Washington | $158K | +15% | 760 |
| Hawaii | $155K | +13% | 230 |
| Maine | $154K | +13% | 180 |
| Colorado | $152K | +11% | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $152K | +11% | 950 |
| Florida | $152K | +11% | 2,350 |
| Connecticut | $150K | +10% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $146K | +7% | 480 |
| Illinois | $146K | +7% | 1,540 |
| Alabama | $145K | +6% | 460 |
| New Mexico | $145K | +6% | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $140K | +2% | 790 |
| Kansas | $139K | +1% | 660 |
| Vermont | $137K | +1% | 90 |
| California | $136K | -0% | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $136K | -1% | 1,410 |
| Nevada | $136K | -1% | 430 |
| Indiana | $136K | -1% | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | -1% | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $135K | -1% | 1,300 |
| District of Columbia | $135K | -1% | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $135K | -2% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $134K | -2% | 660 |
| Missouri | $134K | -2% | 630 |
| North Dakota | $132K | -3% | 140 |
| Oregon | $132K | -3% | 560 |
| Virginia | $132K | -4% | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $129K | -6% | 430 |
| Georgia | $129K | -6% | 870 |
| Texas | $126K | -8% | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $126K | -8% | 210 |
| Iowa | $125K | -8% | 450 |
| Nebraska | $125K | -8% | 340 |
| Arkansas | $124K | -9% | 320 |
| Arizona | $122K | -10% | 1,080 |
| Utah | $119K | -13% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $118K | -14% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $118K | -14% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $111K | -18% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $108K | -21% | 240 |
| Montana | $104K | -24% | 140 |
| Idaho | $103K | -24% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $102K | -25% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $97K | -29% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Stockton-Lodi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Stockton-Lodi?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,742/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Stockton-Lodi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,317/month. At HUD’s $1,742/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Stockton-Lodi?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Stockton-Lodi compare to the national average for optometrists?
Stockton-Lodi pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Stockton-Lodi, CA?
The median is $132,390 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $105,290, and experienced optometrists can clear $212,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Stockton-Lodi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,733/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,742/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a optometrists salary go in Stockton-Lodi?
Stockton-Lodi has a Regional Price Parity of 105.09 (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 $125,978 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.