Salary Levels by Experience
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Est. Annual Net |
|---|---|---|
| Associate OD (1–3 yrs) | $92,000–$110,000 | ~$73,777 |
| Staff OD | $107,000–$130,000 | ~$84,458 |
| Senior OD | $128,000–$150,000 | ~$96,563 |
| Practice Owner / Director | $145,000–$211,000 | ~$119,710 |
Tax Breakdown at $121,000 (Bi-Weekly)
| Component | Per Paycheck | Annual | % of Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $4,653.85 | $121,000 | 100% |
| Federal Income Tax | −$703.35 | −$18,287 | 15.1% |
| CA State Income Tax | −$289.35 | −$7,523 | 6.2% |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | −$356.04 | −$9,257 | 7.7% |
| Net Take-Home | $3,305 | ~$85,934 | 71.0% |
What Drives Optometrist Pay in Los Angeles
Optometrists in New York City provide primary eye care, prescribe corrective lenses, and manage ocular disease at a dense network of independent practices, retail optical chains, and hospital-affiliated clinics. NYC's massive and aging population ensures consistent patient demand, while the city's high concentration of fashion-conscious consumers also drives premium eyewear sales that can boost practice revenue.
Private practice ownership is the primary route to above-average earnings for NYC optometrists, with well-run Manhattan or Brooklyn practices generating owner incomes of $175,000–$240,000 or more. Corporate optometry at chains such as MyEyeDr and Warby Parker offers guaranteed salaries with lower entrepreneurial risk. Medical optometry — managing glaucoma, dry eye, and post-surgical co-management — commands pay premiums over routine refractive care in the NYC market.
- Practice ownership vs. employed associate position
- Medical optometry vs. routine refractive focus
- Optical dispensary and premium lens revenue
- Neighborhood and patient demographics
Top Los Angeles Employers
Major employers hiring optometrists in Los Angeles include: UCLA Health, Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente LA, Children's Hospital LA.
Tax note: An optometrist earning $138,000 in NYC will take home approximately $88,000–$93,000 after federal, state, and city taxes; practice owners may benefit from pass-through deduction strategies unavailable to W-2 employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
An optometrist earning $121,000 in Los Angeles takes home approximately $85,934 per year, or $3,305 per bi-weekly paycheck, after all taxes. The effective tax rate is 29.0%.
Los Angeles optometrist salaries range from $92,000–$110,000 at entry level to $145,000–$211,000 for senior professionals. The median mid-career salary is approximately $121,000.
No — New York State law restricts laser surgery, injections, and most other surgical procedures to ophthalmologists (physicians); however, New York optometrists can diagnose and manage many ocular diseases, prescribe topical and oral medications, and perform co-management of post-surgical patients.
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