Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Vallejo, CA make a median of $155,950 a year, or about $74.97 an hour. The range runs from $124K at the entry level to $222K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.48), so that salary is closer to $143,759 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,178/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $156K get you in Vallejo?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Vallejo’s Regional Price Parity (108.48). 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 Vallejo
Vallejo sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,178/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.48), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Vallejo offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for optometrists in metros near Vallejo, 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, Vallejo, CA
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $124K. Mid-career wages sit at $156K. Top earners bring in $222K or more, a $98K 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 Vallejo numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Vallejo?
Yes — at the median salary of $156K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,178/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Vallejo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $124K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,426/month. At HUD’s $2,178/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Vallejo?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $156K here vs. $137K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 8% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Vallejo compare to the national average for optometrists?
Vallejo pays $156K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.48), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Vallejo, CA?
The median is $155,950 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $123,770, and experienced optometrists can clear $221,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $156K enough to live in Vallejo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,892/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,178/month, which eats 24.5% 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 Vallejo?
Vallejo has a Regional Price Parity of 108.48 (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 $143,759 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.