Optometrist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Optometrists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $138,940 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,733 take-home, or $7,978 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median optometrist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,080
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,614
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,015
- California income tax$8,692
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,806
- Take-home pay$95,733
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Optometrist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,540 | $35.36 | $56,938 | $4,745 |
| 25th percentile | $127,550 | $61.32 | $89,156 | $7,430 |
| Median (50th) | $138,940 | $66.80 | $95,733 | $7,978 |
| 75th percentile | $161,410 | $77.60 | $108,710 | $9,059 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,530 | $100.74 | $137,965 | $11,497 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $138,940 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $95,733 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,298 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of optometrist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $161,030 | $112,869 | $100,272 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,940 | $95,733 | $84,298 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: optometrists
Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions. Ophthalmologists are included in "Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric" (29-1241).
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median optometrist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $138,940 a year, or about $66.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,550 and $161,410.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $138,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $95,733 a year ($7,978 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,498 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,298 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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- Registered Nurse — $135,560
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