Opticians, Dispensing salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Opticians, Dispensing in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $64,170 a year ($30.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 950 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,570 for the top 10%. That is 36% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 5% lower than the Massachusetts statewide median of $67,210. There are 0.35 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $66,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| 25th percentile | $54,320 | $26.12 |
| Median | $64,170 | $30.85 |
| 75th percentile | $79,460 | $38.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,570 | $40.18 |
| Average (mean) | $66,940 | $32.18 |
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 | $5,347.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,673.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,468.08 |
| Weekly | $1,234.04 |
| Hourly | $30.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,170 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | $71,000 | 70 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $69,530 | 60 |
| Worcester, MA | $67,630 | 160 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $65,000 | 60 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $57,180 | 180 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $48,940 | 450 |
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 Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $79,480 | $38.21 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $82,190 | $39.52 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,890 | $22.55 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $104,590 | $50.28 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $50,560 | $24.31 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $50,970 | $24.50 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,940 | $29.30 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $60,460 | $29.07 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $109,200 | $52.50 |
| Surgical Technologist | $81,500 | $39.18 |
| Paramedic | $66,460 | $31.95 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $123,910 | $59.57 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $64,170 a year, or $30.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $83,570 a year. The top 25% earn $79,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,010 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $54,320 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 950 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.