Opticians, Dispensing salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Opticians, Dispensing in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $39,230 a year ($18.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 750 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,810 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 1% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $38,750. There are 0.56 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $44,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| 25th percentile | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Median | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| 75th percentile | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,810 | $26.35 |
| Average (mean) | $44,940 | $21.61 |
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 | $3,269.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,634.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,508.85 |
| Weekly | $754.42 |
| Hourly | $18.86 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $44,530 | 2,420 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $43,440 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,070 | 90 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,070 | 60 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $40,930 | 450 |
| Bloomington, IL | $40,150 | 80 |
| Springfield, IL | $39,790 | 60 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $39,210 | 30 |
| Springfield, MO | $37,650 | 150 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $37,080 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $37,040 | 150 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $36,680 | 50 |
| Columbia, MO | $36,600 | 60 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $36,390 | 40 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,100 | 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 Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $65,120 | $31.31 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $61,830 | $29.73 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Paramedic | $63,050 | $30.31 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,260 | $24.64 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Surgical Technologist | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $98,990 | $47.59 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $39,440 | $18.96 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $83,330 | $40.06 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $39,230 a year, or $18.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $54,810 a year. The top 25% earn $47,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,050 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $37,370 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 750 opticians, dispensing are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.