Optometrist Salary in Riverside, CA
Optometrists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $129,990 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,565 take-home, or $7,547 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median optometrist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,932
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,059
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,885
- California income tax$7,859
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,690
- Take-home pay$90,565
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Optometrist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,170 | $50.08 | $75,301 | $6,275 |
| 25th percentile | $111,230 | $53.48 | $79,520 | $6,627 |
| Median (50th) | $129,990 | $62.50 | $90,565 | $7,547 |
| 75th percentile | $160,940 | $77.38 | $108,438 | $9,037 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,330 | $99.20 | $135,948 | $11,329 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $129,990 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $90,565 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,084 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Optometrist jobs are about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $129,990 | $90,565 | $85,084 |
*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
- San Jose, CA — $135,330
- San Francisco, CA — $142,580
- Los Angeles, CA — $138,940
- San Diego, CA — $133,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in Riverside, CA?
The median optometrist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $129,990 a year, or about $62.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $111,230 and $160,940.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $129,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $90,565 a year ($7,547 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,549 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,084 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860