Median Salary
$47,260
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.72
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$76,750
entry level starts ~$35,610
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 74,000 employed
How much does an Optician, Dispensing make?
Opticians, Dispensing in the United States bring home a median salary of $47,260 a year, or around $22.72 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $35,610, while the top 10% earn $76,750.
That is $14,130 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Optician, Dispensing salary range by percentile
Half of all Opticians, Dispensing earn between $38,820 and $61,700 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,610 | $17.12 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,820 | $18.66 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,260 | $22.72 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $61,700 | $29.66 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,750 | $36.90 |
|
Highest-paying states for Optician, Dispensing
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Connecticut leads the country for Optician, Dispensing pay at $75,300 a year, followed by Hawaii ($75,300) and New Jersey ($72,460). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $36,360 — a gap of $38,940 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Optician, Dispensing salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Connecticut $75,300Hawaii $75,300New Jersey $72,460Massachusetts $67,210New York $63,880District of Columbia $61,310Florida $58,850Alaska $58,250California $57,990Vermont $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
Workforce and education
About 74,000 people work as Opticians, Dispensing in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $51,770 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Optician, Dispensing make in the United States?
The median Optician, Dispensing salary in the United States is $47,260 per year, or about $22.72 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,610, while the top 10% of earners make $76,750 or more.
How does Optician, Dispensing pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Optician, Dispensing median of $47,260 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Opticians, Dispensing the most?
Connecticut is the highest-paying state for Opticians, Dispensing, with a median salary of $75,300 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Optician, Dispensing?
Becoming an Optician, Dispensing typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Opticians, Dispensing work in the United States?
About 74,000 people were employed as Opticians, Dispensing in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.