Salary Levels by Experience
| Experience Level | Salary Range | Est. Annual Net |
|---|---|---|
| Associate OD (1–3 yrs) | $113,000–$135,000 | ~$87,705 |
| Staff OD | $132,000–$160,000 | ~$100,696 |
| Senior OD | $157,000–$184,000 | ~$115,164 |
| Practice Owner / Director | $178,000–$259,000 | ~$145,474 |
Tax Breakdown at $149,000 (Bi-Weekly)
| Component | Per Paycheck | Annual | % of Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $5,730.77 | $149,000 | 100% |
| Federal Income Tax | −$961.81 | −$25,007 | 16.8% |
| CA State Income Tax | −$389.50 | −$10,127 | 6.8% |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | −$438.42 | −$11,399 | 7.7% |
| Net Take-Home | $3,941 | ~$102,468 | 68.8% |
What Drives Optometrist Pay in San Francisco
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 Francisco Employers
Major employers hiring optometrists in San Francisco include: UCSF, Kaiser SF, Sutter Health, California Pacific Medical Center.
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 $149,000 in San Francisco takes home approximately $102,468 per year, or $3,941 per bi-weekly paycheck, after all taxes. The effective tax rate is 31.2%.
San Francisco optometrist salaries range from $113,000–$135,000 at entry level to $178,000–$259,000 for senior professionals. The median mid-career salary is approximately $149,000.
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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