Optometrist Salary in San Diego, CA
Optometrists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $133,280 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,465 take-home, or $7,705 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median optometrist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,721
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,263
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,933
- California income tax$8,165
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,733
- Take-home pay$92,465
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Optometrist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,250 | $49.16 | $74,154 | $6,179 |
| 25th percentile | $122,310 | $58.80 | $86,130 | $7,177 |
| Median (50th) | $133,280 | $64.08 | $92,465 | $7,705 |
| 75th percentile | $160,060 | $76.95 | $107,930 | $8,994 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $208,180 | $100.09 | $137,114 | $11,426 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,280 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $92,465 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,641 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of optometrist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $133,280 | $92,465 | $82,641 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $138,940
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in San Diego, CA?
The median optometrist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $133,280 a year, or about $64.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $122,310 and $160,060.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $133,280 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $92,465 a year ($7,705 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,898 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,641 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #21 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790
- Occupational Therapist — $121,680