Optometrists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,840 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Santa Cruz earn between $115,870 and $152,440.
- $83K10th
- $116K25th
- $122KMedian
- $152K75th
- $165K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $130,520 | $10,877 | $62.75 |
| Median | $122,150 | $10,179 | $58.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $115,870 | $9,656 | $55.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $152,440 | $12,703 | $73.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Optometrists in Santa Cruz earn 11% less than the California average ($147,420) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $130,520 | $122,150 | $82,970 | $164,840 | 50 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $130,520, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $92,430 a year, or $7,703 a month and $3,555 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 Santa Cruz a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $130,520 buys what about $118,767 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 19th 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
- Santa Cruz$130,520
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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$62.75 an hour on average, and $58.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $115,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $92,430 a year ($7,703 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $130,520. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do optometrists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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 1.84, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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