Written for optometrists considering a move.
Lifestyle is not the main reason to take a job. It is usually the reason a good job becomes an easy decision, so it is worth being straightforward about where this is.
Where Santa Maria sits
Santa Maria is on California's Central Coast, roughly midway between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
Santa Barbara and Solvang are to the south. Paso Robles is to the north. Pismo Beach and the coast are a short drive west. San Luis Obispo, with hiking in every direction from town, is close enough for an evening.
The climate is mild year round, which shapes how much of life happens outdoors here.
The character of the place
This is a working agricultural region. Farming and ranching are the backbone of the valley, and the surrounding hills are wine country.
Santa Maria-style barbecue is a genuine local institution rather than a tourist line. Cycling is good, the coast is close, and the pace is different from the metropolitan areas on either end of the state.
What that means for the practice
The community shapes the caseload in ways worth understanding before you arrive.
A large share of our patients are Spanish-speaking, which is why our entire staff is bilingual in English and Spanish. See bilingual eye care in Santa Maria.
We accept Medicare and CenCal/Medi-Cal for patients of all ages. That access commitment is part of why the medical caseload is as broad as it is, and it means the work has a community dimension that is not incidental.
A lot of outdoor and agricultural work also means eyes exposed to dust, wind, sun, and chemicals. See eye care for outdoor and agricultural work.
The trade-off, said plainly
Santa Maria is not Santa Barbara, and it does not pretend to be. It is a working city in an agricultural valley.
What you get in exchange is a community that stays, a practice where you will see the same families over years, and a coastline and hill country close enough to use on an ordinary weekend rather than only on vacation.
If you are looking for a metropolitan practice, this is not that. If you have been in one and are looking for the opposite, it might be exactly right.
Common questions
Is the office open weekends?
No. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
How far is the coast?
Pismo Beach is a short drive. San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara are both reachable for an evening or a day.
Do I need Spanish?
It is a plus rather than a requirement, since the whole team is bilingual.
What is the practice itself like?
Independent, established for over 30 years, about 20 staff, and busy. See practicing medical optometry at an independent practice in Santa Maria.
Talk to us
If the practice interests you, the area is worth seeing in person.
Explore careers or start a conversation.
