Optometrists pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,170 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Modesto earn between $119,350 and $188,590.
- $106K10th
- $119K25th
- $137KMedian
- $189K75th
- $208K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $149,020 | $12,418 | $71.64 |
| Median | $137,480 | $11,457 | $66.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $119,350 | $9,946 | $57.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $188,590 | $15,716 | $90.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Optometrists in Modesto earn about the same as the California average ($147,420) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $149,020 | $137,480 | $105,610 | $208,170 | 90 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $149,020, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $103,354 a year, or $8,613 a month and $3,975 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 Modesto a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $149,020 buys what about $143,140 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 7th 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 Modesto: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Modesto?
$71.65 an hour on average, and $66.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $119,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Modesto?
About $103,354 a year ($8,613 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $149,020. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do optometrists earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 1.62, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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