Opticians, Dispensing salary in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
Opticians, Dispensing in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median of $60,620 a year ($29.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,380 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 5% lower than the New York statewide median of $63,880. There are 0.53 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| 25th percentile | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| Median | $60,620 | $29.14 |
| 75th percentile | $63,660 | $30.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Average (mean) | $64,330 | $30.93 |
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 | $5,051.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,525.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,331.54 |
| Weekly | $1,165.77 |
| Hourly | $29.14 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,050 | 3,460 |
| Syracuse, NY | $68,880 | 180 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $65,870 | 30 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $64,280 | 150 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $63,710 | 180 |
| Kingston, NY | $63,390 | 40 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $62,930 | 50 |
| Rochester, NY | $62,230 | 240 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $61,850 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $60,290 | 30 |
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 New York statewide figures.
Related jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $83,090 | $39.95 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $49,870 | $23.98 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $78,050 | $37.53 |
| Surgical Technologist | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $41,580 | $19.99 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $43,580 | $20.95 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $50,100 | $24.09 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $97,310 | $46.78 |
| Paramedic | $60,820 | $29.24 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $83,480 | $40.13 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $60,620 a year, or $29.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn at least $77,380 a year. The top 25% earn $63,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,990 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $52,130 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY?
About 280 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, not counting the self-employed.