Opticians, Dispensing salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Opticians, Dispensing in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $44,530 a year ($21.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,560 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $43,960. There are 0.54 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| 25th percentile | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| Median | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| 75th percentile | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| Average (mean) | $47,180 | $22.68 |
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 | $3,710.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,855.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,712.69 |
| Weekly | $856.35 |
| Hourly | $21.41 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $50,730 | 570 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,070 | 90 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,070 | 60 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $40,560 | 340 |
| Bloomington, IL | $40,150 | 80 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $39,840 | 170 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $39,800 | 40 |
| Springfield, IL | $39,790 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $39,580 | 520 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,230 | 750 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $39,210 | 30 |
| Kokomo, IN | $38,390 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $38,370 | 60 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $38,260 | 30 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $38,070 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $38,000 | 80 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,890 | 50 |
| Evansville, IN | $37,790 | 120 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $37,080 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $37,040 | 150 |
| Muncie, IN | $36,600 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,100 | 50 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $73,960 | $35.56 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $82,140 | $39.49 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,240 | $24.15 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Paramedic | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Surgical Technologist | $66,360 | $31.91 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $103,080 | $49.56 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $100,730 | $48.43 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $44,530 a year, or $21.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $63,560 a year. The top 25% earn $48,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,530 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $39,230 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,420 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.