Opticians, Dispensing salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Opticians, Dispensing in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $44,620 a year ($21.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,580 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is about the same as the Wisconsin statewide median of $44,820. There are 0.75 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| 25th percentile | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Median | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| 75th percentile | $47,910 | $23.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,580 | $29.13 |
| Average (mean) | $45,660 | $21.95 |
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 | $3,718.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,859.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,716.15 |
| Weekly | $858.08 |
| Hourly | $21.45 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,840 | 930 |
| Rochester, MN | $47,460 | 80 |
| Madison, WI | $46,480 | 210 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $46,240 | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $45,930 | 310 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $45,740 | 50 |
| Kenosha, WI | $45,420 | 40 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $45,280 | 40 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $45,210 | 50 |
| Wausau, WI | $45,090 | 50 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $45,040 | 80 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $44,910 | 30 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $44,190 | 170 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $43,910 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $43,660 | 90 |
| Appleton, WI | $43,620 | 70 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $39,950 | 50 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $38,900 | 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 |
See Opticians, Dispensing pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,950 | $30.74 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $58,230 | $27.99 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $76,720 | $36.89 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $56,010 | $26.93 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $37,770 | $18.16 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $64,590 | $31.05 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $45,930 | $22.08 |
| Paramedic | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| Dietetic Technician | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Registered Nurse | $98,370 | $47.29 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $125,390 | $60.29 |
| Pharmacist | $159,020 | $76.45 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $44,620 a year, or $21.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $60,580 a year. The top 25% earn $47,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,090 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $38,790 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 60 opticians, dispensing are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.