California Median
$57,990
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+23% vs US median
US median $47,260
State Rank
#9 of 51
7,840 employed here
How much does an Optician, Dispensing make in California?
An Optician, Dispensing working in California earns a median salary of $57,990 per year, or about $27.88 per hour. That is 23% above the national median of $47,260 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $42,390 while the top 10% make $81,680 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $47,050 and $77,460 a year.
Optician, Dispensing salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $47,050 | $22.62 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,990 | $27.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $77,460 | $37.24 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,680 | $39.27 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 9th out of 51 states and territories for Optician, Dispensing pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Optician, Dispensing salary in other states
Connecticut $75,300Hawaii $75,300New Jersey $72,460Massachusetts $67,210New York $63,880District of Columbia $61,310Florida $58,850Alaska $58,250Vermont $57,350Virginia $55,820New Hampshire $51,980Ohio $50,500North Carolina $50,190Tennessee $49,840Washington $49,220Oregon $49,210Maryland $48,700Arizona $48,210Minnesota $48,020Georgia $48,010South Carolina $48,000Rhode Island $47,400Colorado $47,310Maine $47,220Montana $47,050Nevada $46,910Delaware $46,220Pennsylvania $45,450North Dakota $45,230Wisconsin $44,820Iowa $44,480Kentucky $44,290Illinois $43,960Idaho $43,950South Dakota $43,400Arkansas $42,880Utah $41,780Michigan $41,180Kansas $40,140Nebraska $39,830Indiana $39,370Wyoming $39,100New Mexico $39,090Missouri $38,750Texas $38,720West Virginia $38,120Oklahoma $37,940Alabama $36,880Mississippi $36,680Louisiana $36,360
Working as an Optician, Dispensing in California
Nationally, about 74,000 people work as Opticians, Dispensing in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($57,990) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Optician, Dispensing make in California?
The median Optician, Dispensing salary in California is $57,990 per year, or about $27.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,390 at the entry level to $81,680 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Opticians, Dispensing about 23% more than the national median of $47,260. California ranks 9th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Opticians, Dispensing?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $57,990 a year. About 7,840 Opticians, Dispensing are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Optician, Dispensing salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.