Opticians, Dispensing salary in the U.S.
Opticians, Dispensing in the U.S. earn a median of $47,260 a year ($22.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 73,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,750 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $51,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| 25th percentile | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| Median | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| 75th percentile | $61,700 | $29.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Average (mean) | $51,770 | $24.89 |
Half of opticians, dispensing earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,938.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,969.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,817.69 |
| Weekly | $908.85 |
| Hourly | $22.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 | 610 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 | 2,010 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 | 1,360 |
| New York | $63,880 | 3,520 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 | 80 |
| Florida | $58,850 | 5,080 |
| Alaska | $58,250 | 90 |
| California | $57,990 | 7,840 |
| Vermont | $57,350 | 70 |
| Virginia | $55,820 | 1,860 |
| New Hampshire | $51,980 | 440 |
| Ohio | $50,500 | 2,960 |
| North Carolina | $50,190 | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $49,840 | 1,530 |
| Washington | $49,220 | 2,100 |
| Oregon | $49,210 | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $48,700 | 1,060 |
| Arizona | $48,210 | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,020 | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48,010 | 2,290 |
| South Carolina | $48,000 | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 | 350 |
| Colorado | $47,310 | 1,520 |
| Maine | $47,220 | 350 |
| Montana | $47,050 | 330 |
| Nevada | $46,910 | 960 |
| Delaware | $46,220 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,450 | 2,230 |
| North Dakota | $45,230 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $44,820 | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $44,480 | 920 |
| Kentucky | $44,290 | 950 |
| Illinois | $43,960 | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $43,950 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $43,400 | 430 |
| Arkansas | $42,880 | 690 |
| Utah | $41,780 | 700 |
| Michigan | $41,180 | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $40,140 | 630 |
| Nebraska | $39,830 | 870 |
| Indiana | $39,370 | 2,010 |
| Wyoming | $39,100 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $39,090 | 340 |
| Missouri | $38,750 | 1,600 |
| Texas | $38,720 | 6,700 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $37,940 | 730 |
| Alabama | $36,880 | 880 |
| Mississippi | $36,680 | 560 |
| Louisiana | $36,360 | 720 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,980 | 1,380 |
Best-paying metro areas for opticians, dispensing
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 | 90 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $78,600 | 130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,460 | 120 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $76,820 | 70 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $76,170 | 60 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,300 | 90 |
| New Haven, CT | $72,410 | 100 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $72,290 | 70 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $71,440 | 220 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,050 | 3,460 |
| Springfield, MA | $71,000 | 70 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $69,530 | 60 |
| Syracuse, NY | $68,880 | 180 |
| Worcester, MA | $67,630 | 160 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $67,110 | 100 |
Metro areas with the most opticians, dispensing
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,460 | $71,050 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,070 | $56,130 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,420 | $44,530 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,070 | $46,030 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,660 | $38,050 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,470 | $43,830 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,380 | $51,890 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,250 | $61,880 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,140 | $48,960 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,080 | $59,520 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,070 | $49,300 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | 1,050 | $28,980 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 990 | $48,530 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 950 | $64,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 940 | $58,360 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in the U.S.?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the U.S. is $47,260 a year, or $22.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the U.S. earn at least $76,750 a year. The top 25% earn $61,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,610 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $38,820 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in the U.S.?
About 73,530 opticians, dispensing are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.