Opticians, Dispensing salary in Pennsylvania
Opticians, Dispensing in Pennsylvania earn a median of $45,450 a year ($21.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,450 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pennsylvania ranks 29th of 51 states for opticians, dispensing pay. There are 0.37 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $46,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,160 | $17.39 |
| 25th percentile | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Median | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| 75th percentile | $49,620 | $23.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Average (mean) | $46,330 | $22.27 |
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 | $3,787.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,893.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,748.08 |
| Weekly | $874.04 |
| Hourly | $21.85 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,300 | 1,070 |
| Lancaster, PA | $48,620 | 120 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $48,190 | 150 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $46,470 | 450 |
| State College, PA | $46,150 | 40 |
| Lebanon, PA | $46,010 | 40 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $45,710 | 100 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $45,300 | 100 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $44,860 | 120 |
| Reading, PA | $42,470 | 60 |
| Erie, PA | $39,120 | 70 |
| Johnstown, PA | $37,860 | 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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $51,680 | $24.85 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $43,310 | $20.82 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $76,050 | $36.56 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $46,840 | $22.52 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Paramedic | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| Surgical Technologist | $62,680 | $30.14 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $82,710 | $39.77 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,050 | $21.66 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in Pennsylvania is $45,450 a year, or $21.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in Pennsylvania earn at least $58,450 a year. The top 25% earn $49,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,160 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $38,460 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Pennsylvania?
About 2,230 opticians, dispensing are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.