How much does an optometrist make in Santa Cruz?
$122,200a year
Median yearly pay for optometrists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $58.73 an hour or $10,180 a month.
- Hourly
- $58.73
- Vs. national median
- -11%
- Rank among cities
- 167 of 183
- Jobs in the area
- 50
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $82,970Median: $122,200Highest 10%: $164,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,970 | $39.89 | |
| 25th | $115,900 | $55.71 | |
| Median | $122,200 | $58.73 | |
| 75th | $152,400 | $73.29 | |
| 90th | $164,800 | $79.25 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for optometrists.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $165,400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $156,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $142,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $140,200 |
| Sacramento, CA | $139,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $138,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $137,500 |
| Fresno, CA | $136,700 |
| San Jose, CA | $135,300 |
| Salinas, CA | $133,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $133,300 |
| Stockton, CA | $132,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $130,000 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $129,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $129,200 |
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 optometrist make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $58.73 ($122,200 a year).
Do optometrists make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
No: $122,200 against $136,600 nationally, 11% less.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $136,300, so Santa Cruz pays 10% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for optometrist pay?
167 of 183 metro areas with data.
How much does an optometrist make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $82,970 or less a year; the top 10% make $164,800 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.