How much does an optician make in Santa Cruz?
$55,950a year
Median yearly pay for opticians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $26.90 an hour or $4,663 a month.
- Hourly
- $26.90
- Vs. national median
- +18%
- Rank among cities
- 67 of 318
- Jobs in the area
- 50
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $46,910Median: $55,950Highest 10%: $77,460
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,910 | $22.55 | |
| 25th | $48,990 | $23.55 | |
| Median | $55,950 | $26.90 | |
| 75th | $77,290 | $37.16 | |
| 90th | $77,460 | $37.24 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for opticians.
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $77,460 |
| Sacramento, CA | $62,240 |
| San Jose, CA | $60,480 |
| Modesto, CA | $59,010 |
| San Francisco, CA | $58,360 |
| Stockton, CA | $58,250 |
| San Diego, CA | $58,240 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $56,130 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $55,680 |
| Salinas, CA | $55,140 |
| Riverside, CA | $55,070 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,960 |
| Oxnard, CA | $50,520 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $46,970 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $431,000 |
| Physician | $305,600 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $291,900 |
| Dentist | $176,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $171,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,200 |
| Veterinarian | $164,800 |
| Pharmacist | $161,900 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,000 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an optician make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $26.90 ($55,950 a year).
Do opticians make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $55,950 against $47,260 nationally, 18% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $57,990, so Santa Cruz pays 4% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for optician pay?
67 of 318 metro areas with data.
How much does an optician make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $46,910 or less a year; the top 10% make $77,460 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.