Opticians, Dispensing salary in Lake Charles, LA
Opticians, Dispensing in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median of $35,130 a year ($16.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,370 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 3% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $36,360. There are 0.37 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $37,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Lake Charles, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,030 | $13.96 |
| 25th percentile | $31,930 | $15.35 |
| Median | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| 75th percentile | $42,560 | $20.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,370 | $22.30 |
| Average (mean) | $37,140 | $17.86 |
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 | $2,927.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,463.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,351.15 |
| Weekly | $675.58 |
| Hourly | $16.89 |
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 Orleans-Metairie, LA | $38,300 | 120 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $37,580 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $36,910 | 140 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $36,910 | 50 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $36,360 | 40 |
| Alexandria, LA | $36,160 | 40 |
| Lafayette, LA | $34,300 | 70 |
| Monroe, LA | $33,410 | 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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lake Charles, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $53,300 | $25.63 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $41,520 | $19.96 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $34,550 | $16.61 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $35,370 | $17.01 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $36,260 | $17.44 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $38,430 | $18.47 |
| Surgical Technologist | $58,850 | $28.29 |
| Registered Nurse | $90,690 | $43.60 |
| Pharmacist | $133,720 | $64.29 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $64,720 | $31.11 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,460 | $61.76 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $47,880 | $23.02 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Lake Charles, LA
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 Lake Charles, LA?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $35,130 a year, or $16.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Lake Charles, LA?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn at least $46,370 a year. The top 25% earn $42,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Lake Charles, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,030 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $31,930 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Lake Charles, LA?
About 40 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.