Opticians, Dispensing salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Opticians, Dispensing in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $48,320 a year ($23.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,600 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 1% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $48,700. There are 0.37 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $50,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| 25th percentile | $42,790 | $20.57 |
| Median | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| 75th percentile | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| Average (mean) | $50,300 | $24.19 |
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 | $4,026.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,013.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,858.46 |
| Weekly | $929.23 |
| Hourly | $23.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,520 | 1,080 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,300 | 1,070 |
| Salisbury, MD | $46,020 | 40 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $43,660 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for opticians, dispensing
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 |
| New York | $63,880 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 |
| Florida | $58,850 |
| Alaska | $58,250 |
| California | $57,990 |
| Vermont | $57,350 |
See Opticians, Dispensing pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $74,860 | $35.99 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $48,330 | $23.24 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $85,890 | $41.29 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $59,390 | $28.55 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Surgical Technologist | $68,970 | $33.16 |
| Paramedic | $66,330 | $31.89 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $98,890 | $47.54 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $86,270 | $41.48 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $102,860 | $49.45 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $48,320 a year, or $23.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $62,600 a year. The top 25% earn $56,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,380 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $42,790 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 500 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.