Opticians, Dispensing salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Opticians, Dispensing in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $37,370 a year ($17.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,300 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 13% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $42,880. There are 0.69 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| 25th percentile | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Median | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| 75th percentile | $54,630 | $26.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,300 | $35.24 |
| Average (mean) | $45,450 | $21.85 |
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 | $3,114.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,557.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,437.31 |
| Weekly | $718.65 |
| Hourly | $17.97 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $47,620 | 220 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $46,020 | 150 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $45,790 | 30 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $43,280 | 200 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $39,920 | 40 |
| Tulsa, OK | $39,190 | 170 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $38,670 | 260 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $36,260 | 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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $55,880 | $26.86 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $64,410 | $30.97 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Surgical Technologist | $61,890 | $29.76 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $30,960 | $14.89 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $37,020 | $17.80 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $100,140 | $48.14 |
| Paramedic | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,270 | $35.71 |
| Registered Nurse | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129,270 | $62.15 |
| Physicians, All Other | $258,130 | $124.10 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $37,370 a year, or $17.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $73,300 a year. The top 25% earn $54,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,740 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $36,110 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 70 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.