Optometrist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Optometrists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $142,580 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,836 take-home, or $8,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$22,953
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,067
- California income tax$9,030
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,854
- Take-home pay$97,836
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Optometrist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $107,780 | $51.82 | $77,458 | $6,455 |
| 25th percentile | $128,900 | $61.97 | $89,935 | $7,495 |
| Median (50th) | $142,580 | $68.55 | $97,836 | $8,153 |
| 75th percentile | $173,260 | $83.30 | $115,553 | $9,629 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,350 | $106.42 | $145,140 | $12,095 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $142,580 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $97,836 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,623 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 Francisco, CA has 1.8× the national concentration of optometrist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #19 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 |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $142,580 | $97,836 | $84,623 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $138,940
- San Diego, CA — $133,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median optometrist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $142,580 a year, or about $68.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,900 and $173,260.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $142,580 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $97,836 a year ($8,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,884 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,623 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #19 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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