Opticians, Dispensing salary in California
Opticians, Dispensing in California earn a median of $57,990 a year ($27.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,680 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $47,260. California ranks 9th of 51 states for opticians, dispensing pay. There are 0.43 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $61,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 25th percentile | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Median | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| 75th percentile | $77,460 | $37.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,680 | $39.27 |
| Average (mean) | $61,070 | $29.36 |
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 | $4,832.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,416.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,230.38 |
| Weekly | $1,115.19 |
| Hourly | $27.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,460 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,240 | 580 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,480 | 390 |
| Modesto, CA | $59,010 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,360 | 940 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,250 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,240 | 490 |
| Napa, CA | $57,620 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,130 | 3,070 |
| Chico, CA | $56,100 | 30 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $55,950 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,680 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $55,380 | 40 |
| Salinas, CA | $55,140 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,070 | 870 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,960 | 160 |
| Visalia, CA | $50,590 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,520 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,970 | 130 |
| Redding, CA | $46,040 | 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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $55,110 | $26.50 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,810 | $29.71 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Surgical Technologist | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $128,530 | $61.79 |
| Dietetic Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Paramedic | $74,590 | $35.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in California is $57,990 a year, or $27.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in California?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in California earn at least $81,680 a year. The top 25% earn $77,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,390 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $47,050 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in California?
About 7,840 opticians, dispensing are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.