Opticians, Dispensing salary in Virginia
Opticians, Dispensing in Virginia earn a median of $55,820 a year ($26.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,460 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $47,260. Virginia ranks 11th of 51 states for opticians, dispensing pay. There are 0.45 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $55,110, close to the median.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| 25th percentile | $43,730 | $21.03 |
| Median | $55,820 | $26.84 |
| 75th percentile | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,460 | $37.24 |
| Average (mean) | $55,110 | $26.50 |
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 | $4,651.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,325.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,146.92 |
| Weekly | $1,073.46 |
| Hourly | $26.84 |
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 Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | $62,980 | 30 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,520 | 1,080 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $58,190 | 40 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $57,140 | 60 |
| Richmond, VA | $55,020 | 310 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,650 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,390 | 400 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $48,890 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $38,510 | 110 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,920 | $31.21 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $61,050 | $29.35 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,670 | $38.78 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $53,290 | $25.62 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $52,090 | $25.04 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $76,880 | $36.96 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $95,660 | $45.99 |
| Paramedic | $60,480 | $29.08 |
| Surgical Technologist | $67,580 | $32.49 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $40,920 | $19.68 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in Virginia is $55,820 a year, or $26.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Virginia?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in Virginia earn at least $77,460 a year. The top 25% earn $63,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,360 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $43,730 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Virginia?
About 1,860 opticians, dispensing are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.