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
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 #20 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $153,980 | $111,784 | $109,000 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $138,580 | $100,410 | $108,500 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $158,130 | $113,099 | $106,917 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $159,790 | $110,772 | $105,676 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $140,790 | $107,496 | $104,274 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $142,690 | $102,981 | $102,675 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $154,970 | $109,659 | $101,287 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $161,030 | $112,869 | $100,272 |
| 20 | 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 21 metros →
Optometrist salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $139,020
- Riverside, CA — $129,990
- San Jose, CA — $135,330
- San Francisco, CA — $142,580
- San Diego, CA — $133,280
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 #20 of 21 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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