Salary Levels by Experience
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Est. Annual Net |
|---|---|---|
| Associate OD (1–3 yrs) | $91,000–$109,000 | ~$73,166 |
| Staff OD | $106,000–$129,000 | ~$83,850 |
| Senior OD | $126,000–$148,000 | ~$95,382 |
| Practice Owner / Director | $144,000–$209,000 | ~$118,731 |
Tax Breakdown at $120,000 (Bi-Weekly)
| Component | Per Paycheck | Annual | % of Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $4,615.38 | $120,000 | 100% |
| Federal Income Tax | −$694.12 | −$18,047 | 15.0% |
| CA State Income Tax | −$285.77 | −$7,430 | 6.2% |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | −$353.08 | −$9,180 | 7.6% |
| Net Take-Home | $3,282 | ~$85,343 | 71.1% |
What Drives Optometrist Pay in San Diego
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 San Diego Employers
Major employers hiring optometrists in San Diego include: UC San Diego Health, Sharp HealthCare, Scripps Health, Rady Children's.
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 $120,000 in San Diego takes home approximately $85,343 per year, or $3,282 per bi-weekly paycheck, after all taxes. The effective tax rate is 28.9%.
San Diego optometrist salaries range from $91,000–$109,000 at entry level to $144,000–$209,000 for senior professionals. The median mid-career salary is approximately $120,000.
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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