Opticians, Dispensing salary in New York
Opticians, Dispensing in New York earn a median of $63,880 a year ($30.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,200 for the top 10%. That is 35% higher than the national median of $47,260. New York ranks 5th of 51 states for opticians, dispensing pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.36 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $64,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,060 | $20.70 |
| 25th percentile | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Median | $63,880 | $30.71 |
| 75th percentile | $73,580 | $35.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,200 | $39.04 |
| Average (mean) | $64,830 | $31.17 |
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 | $5,323.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,661.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,456.92 |
| Weekly | $1,228.46 |
| Hourly | $30.71 |
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 New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,050 | 3,460 |
| Syracuse, NY | $68,880 | 180 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $65,870 | 30 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $64,280 | 150 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $63,710 | 180 |
| Kingston, NY | $63,390 | 40 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $62,930 | 50 |
| Rochester, NY | $62,230 | 240 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $61,850 | 40 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $60,620 | 280 |
| Binghamton, NY | $60,290 | 30 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $67,180 | $32.30 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $97,280 | $46.77 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $98,470 | $47.34 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,720 | $29.67 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $103,920 | $49.96 |
| Surgical Technologist | $79,550 | $38.25 |
| Paramedic | $73,200 | $35.19 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $89,570 | $43.06 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $113,270 | $54.46 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in New York is $63,880 a year, or $30.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in New York?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in New York earn at least $81,200 a year. The top 25% earn $73,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,060 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $50,500 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in New York?
About 3,520 opticians, dispensing are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.