Optometrists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $107,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $221,350 or more. The middle half of optometrists in San Francisco earn between $128,900 and $173,260.
- $108K10th
- $129K25th
- $143KMedian
- $173K75th
- $221K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $152,140 | $12,678 | $73.14 |
| Median | $142,580 | $11,882 | $68.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,900 | $10,742 | $61.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $173,260 | $14,438 | $83.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Optometrists in San Francisco earn 3% more than the California average ($147,420) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $152,140 | $142,580 | $107,780 | $221,350 | 1,180 |
| California | $147,420 | $136,300 | $99,890 | $213,710 | 6,890 |
| United States | $141,550 | $136,570 | $74,870 | $202,180 | 42,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Optometrists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $152,140, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $105,197 a year, or $8,766 a month and $4,046 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $152,140 buys what about $131,594 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 6th of 19 California metro areas for this job; Santa Rosa pays the most ($172,860).
- Santa Rosa$172,860
- Vallejo$167,000
- San Jose$156,180
- Sacramento$154,040
- Chico$152,250
- San Francisco$152,140
- Modesto$149,020
- Stockton$144,230
- San Diego$143,630
- Los Angeles$143,560
Highest-paying cities for optometrists
Roanoke, VA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($219,610).
- Roanoke, VA$219,610
- Wilmington, NC$204,680
- Trenton, NJ$186,160
- Fort Collins, CO$183,350
- Santa Rosa, CA$172,860
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Optometrists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in San Francisco?
$73.14 an hour on average, and $68.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $107,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $105,197 a year ($8,766 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $152,140. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do optometrists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($141,550).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1041; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.81, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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