Optometrist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Optometrists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $122,150 a year ($58.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,840 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $136,570. Pay here is 10% lower than the California statewide median of $136,300. There are 0.51 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $130,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for optometrists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,970 | $39.89 |
| 25th percentile | $115,870 | $55.71 |
| Median | $122,150 | $58.73 |
| 75th percentile | $152,440 | $73.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,840 | $79.25 |
| Average (mean) | $130,520 | $62.75 |
Half of optometrists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,179.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,089.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,698.08 |
| Weekly | $2,349.04 |
| Hourly | $58.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $122,150 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Optometrist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $165,360 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $155,950 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,580 | 1,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $140,160 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $139,890 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $139,020 | 510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $138,940 | 2,360 |
| Modesto, CA | $137,480 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $136,730 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $135,330 | 580 |
| Visalia, CA | $135,160 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $133,350 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $133,280 | 540 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $132,390 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $129,990 | 510 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $129,370 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $129,150 | 120 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $129,020 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for optometrists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 |
| Maryland | $165,840 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 |
| Delaware | $161,270 |
| New York | $161,140 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,560 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 |
| Maine | $154,110 |
See Optometrist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | $80.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | $146.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | $77.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Veterinarian | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,030 | $76.46 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,670 | $57.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $130,420 | $62.70 |
| Dentists, General | $175,950 | $84.59 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| Acupuncturist | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $103,760 | $49.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for optometrists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $122,150 a year, or $58.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of optometrists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $164,840 a year. The top 25% earn $152,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,970 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $115,870 or less.
How many optometrists work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 50 optometrists are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.