Ophthalmologist Salary in California 2026: $640K Median
The median ophthalmologist salary in California is $640,000 per year, based on 13 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through . The middle 50% of reports fall between $490,000 and $770,000.
- Median
- $640,000
- Middle 50% (25th–75th)
- $490K–$770K
- Approved reports
- 13
- As of
Source: SalaryDr salary reports — anonymous, self-reported and approved before publication. Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses and incentives. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles. Figures from 24 or fewer reports are rounded to protect privacy. Methodology
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Ophthalmology Bonus & Incentive Pay in California (2026)
Based on 13 approved salary reports in California. 92% of them include bonus or incentive compensation.
Bonus Compensation Overview
- Average Bonus
- $255,000
- Median Bonus
- $160,000
- Bonus Range (IQR)
- $65,000 - $300,000
- Bonus as % of Total Comp
- 34%
- Physicians with Bonus
- 12 of 13 (92%)
New Graduate Offer Package
Not enough early-career reports (0–3 years of experience) yet to show a separate figure.
Ophthalmologist Salary in California: FAQ
Answers are computed from the 13 approved salary reports on this page.
How much does an ophthalmologist make in California?
The median ophthalmologist salary in California is $640,000 per year, based on 13 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through September 4, 2026. The average is $670,000. At the average reported workweek of 44 hours, the median works out to about $280 per hour.
What is the salary range for an ophthalmologist in California?
The middle 50% of reported ophthalmologist salaries in California fall between $490,000 (25th percentile) and $770,000 (75th percentile). Based on 13 reports.
How many hours does an ophthalmologist work per week in California?
Ophthalmologists who reported their schedule in California average 44 hours per week (13 reports).
How satisfied are ophthalmologists with their jobs?
Ophthalmologists who rated their job in California gave it an average of 4.4 out of 5 (13 reports). 92% of the 13 reports that answered say they would choose the specialty again.
Where does this ophthalmologist salary data come from?
These figures come from 13 reports that ophthalmologists in California submitted anonymously to SalaryDr and that were approved before publication; the most recent is from September 4, 2026. Reports are self-reported: approval means a report passed SalaryDr's review checks, not that the submitter's pay was independently verified. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles.
Reports are anonymous and self-reported. How SalaryDr calculates these figures.