29 Series · SOC 29-2081
Opticians, Dispensing Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $47,260
- Median / year
- +1.5%
- 2024→2025
- $76,750
- Top 10% earn
- +2.9%
- Growth '24–'34
- 73,530
- Estimated US jobs
Opticians, Dispensing earn a median of $47,260 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $47,260, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,610 (10th percentile) to $76,750 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 73,530 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Connecticut ($75,300).
The pay verdict
Opticians, Dispensing earn a median of $47,260, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 25% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #66 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.9% by 2034.
- $47,260
- Median annual wage
- Top 75%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #66 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 2.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Connecticut at $75,300. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Opticians, Dispensing moved from $37,840 in May 2019 to $47,260 in May 2025 (+24.9%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Opticians, Dispensing sits +0.4 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Opticians, Dispensing (SOC 29-2081) has a national median of $47,260 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $35,610 to $76,750, and the published mean is $51,770. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 73,530 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 52 state or territory areas and 426 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $46,560 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $47,260 in May 2025, a rise of $700 (+1.5%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 6,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as long-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Connecticut pays the highest state median at $75,300, which is +59% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Vallejo, CA at $78,830. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$47,260
per year
Median Hourly
$22.72/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$51,770
average
Employment
73,530
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Opticians, Dispensing pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$47,260 Bottom 25% higher than 25% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$47,260 · 25th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Opticians, Dispensing; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
- Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
- Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
- Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
- Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
- Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
- Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
- Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
- Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
- Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
- Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
- Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
- Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
- Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
- Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
- Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
- Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
- Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
- Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
- Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
- Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
- Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
- Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
- Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590
- Opticians, Dispensing: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.9%, Median annual wage $47260
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.9%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
6,800
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+2,300
79,900 (2024) → 82,200 (2034)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Opticians, Dispensing roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
- ▸ Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
- ▸ Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
- ▸ Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
- ▸ Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
- ▸ Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.
- ▸ Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
- ▸ Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses.
- ▸ Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses.
- ▸ Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Opticians, Dispensing pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $34,840 |
| 2016 | $35,530 |
| 2017 | $36,250 |
| 2018 | $37,010 |
| 2019 | $37,840 |
| 2020 | $38,530 |
| 2021 | $37,570 |
| 2022 | $39,610 |
| 2023 | $44,170 |
| 2024 | $46,560 |
| 2025 | $47,260 |
2015 median
$34,840
2025 median
$47,260
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$9,420 (+24.9%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+3.8%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $34,840 | First banked release | 73,520 |
| May 2016 | $35,530 | +2.0% | 75,270 |
| May 2017 | $36,250 | +2.0% | 75,450 |
| May 2018 | $37,010 | +2.1% | 72,250 |
| May 2019 | $37,840 | Classification break | 72,330 |
| May 2020 | $38,530 | +1.8% | 68,180 |
| May 2021 | $37,570 | -2.5% | 73,270 |
| May 2022 | $39,610 | +5.4% | 73,460 |
| May 2023 | $44,170 | +11.5% | 76,770 |
| May 2024 | $46,560 | +5.4% | 79,690 |
| May 2025 | $47,260 | +1.5% | 73,530 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $34,840 in May 2015 to $47,260 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.8% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 72,330 in May 2019 to 73,530 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $75,300 | +59% above national |
| 2 | Hawaii | $75,300 | +59% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $72,460 | +53% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $67,210 | +42% above national |
| 5 | New York | $63,880 | +35% above national |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $61,310 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Florida | $58,850 | +25% above national |
| 8 | Alaska | $58,250 | +23% above national |
| 9 | California | $57,990 | +23% above national |
| 10 | Vermont | $57,350 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Virginia | $55,820 | +18% above national |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,980 | +10% above national |
| 13 | Ohio | $50,500 | +7% above national |
| 14 | North Carolina | $50,190 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Tennessee | $49,840 | +5% above national |
| 16 | Washington | $49,220 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Oregon | $49,210 | +4% above national |
| 18 | Maryland | $48,700 | +3% above national |
| 19 | Arizona | $48,210 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Minnesota | $48,020 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Georgia | $48,010 | +2% above national |
| 22 | South Carolina | $48,000 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $47,400 | same as national |
| 24 | Colorado | $47,310 | same as national |
| 25 | Maine | $47,220 | same as national |
| 26 | Montana | $47,050 | same as national |
| 27 | Nevada | $46,910 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Delaware | $46,220 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $45,450 | 4% below national |
| 30 | North Dakota | $45,230 | 4% below national |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $44,820 | 5% below national |
| 32 | Iowa | $44,480 | 6% below national |
| 33 | Kentucky | $44,290 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Illinois | $43,960 | 7% below national |
| 35 | Idaho | $43,950 | 7% below national |
| 36 | South Dakota | $43,400 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Arkansas | $42,880 | 9% below national |
| 38 | Utah | $41,780 | 12% below national |
| 39 | Michigan | $41,180 | 13% below national |
| 40 | Kansas | $40,140 | 15% below national |
| 41 | Nebraska | $39,830 | 16% below national |
| 42 | Indiana | $39,370 | 17% below national |
| 43 | Wyoming | $39,100 | 17% below national |
| 44 | New Mexico | $39,090 | 17% below national |
| 45 | Missouri | $38,750 | 18% below national |
| 46 | Texas | $38,720 | 18% below national |
| 47 | West Virginia | $38,120 | 19% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $37,940 | 20% below national |
| 49 | Alabama | $36,880 | 22% below national |
| 50 | Mississippi | $36,680 | 22% below national |
| 51 | Louisiana | $36,360 | 23% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $28,980 | 39% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 318 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo, CA | $78,830 | +67% above national |
| 2 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $78,600 | +66% above national |
| 3 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,460 | +64% above national |
| 4 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $76,820 | +63% above national |
| 5 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $76,170 | +61% above national |
| 6 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,300 | +59% above national |
| 7 | New Haven, CT | $72,410 | +53% above national |
| 8 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $72,290 | +53% above national |
| 9 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $71,440 | +51% above national |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,050 | +50% above national |
| 11 | Springfield, MA | $71,000 | +50% above national |
| 12 | Barnstable Town, MA | $69,530 | +47% above national |
| 13 | Syracuse, NY | $68,880 | +46% above national |
| 14 | Worcester, MA | $67,630 | +43% above national |
| 15 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $67,110 | +42% above national |
| 16 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $65,870 | +39% above national |
| 17 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $65,000 | +38% above national |
| 18 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $64,280 | +36% above national |
| 19 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $64,170 | +36% above national |
| 20 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $63,710 | +35% above national |
| 21 | Kingston, NY | $63,390 | +34% above national |
| 22 | Harrisonburg, VA | $62,980 | +33% above national |
| 23 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $62,940 | +33% above national |
| 24 | Utica-Rome, NY | $62,930 | +33% above national |
| 25 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,240 | +32% above national |
| 26 | Rochester, NY | $62,230 | +32% above national |
| 27 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $62,030 | +31% above national |
| 28 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $61,880 | +31% above national |
| 29 | Glens Falls, NY | $61,850 | +31% above national |
| 30 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $61,150 | +29% above national |
| 31 | Gainesville, FL | $60,680 | +28% above national |
| 32 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $60,620 | +28% above national |
| 33 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $60,490 | +28% above national |
| 34 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,480 | +28% above national |
| 35 | Punta Gorda, FL | $60,360 | +28% above national |
| 36 | Binghamton, NY | $60,290 | +28% above national |
| 37 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $60,140 | +27% above national |
| 38 | Anchorage, AK | $59,940 | +27% above national |
| 39 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $59,800 | +27% above national |
| 40 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,520 | +26% above national |
| 41 | Ocala, FL | $59,470 | +26% above national |
| 42 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,420 | +26% above national |
| 43 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $59,310 | +25% above national |
| 44 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $59,120 | +25% above national |
| 45 | Modesto, CA | $59,010 | +25% above national |
| 46 | Tallahassee, FL | $58,700 | +24% above national |
| 47 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,360 | +23% above national |
| 48 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $58,310 | +23% above national |
| 49 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $58,250 | +23% above national |
| 50 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,250 | +23% above national |
| 51 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,240 | +23% above national |
| 52 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $58,220 | +23% above national |
| 53 | Winchester, VA-WV | $58,190 | +23% above national |
| 54 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $57,870 | +22% above national |
| 55 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $57,780 | +22% above national |
| 56 | Fayetteville, NC | $57,780 | +22% above national |
| 57 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $57,670 | +22% above national |
| 58 | Napa, CA | $57,620 | +22% above national |
| 59 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $57,180 | +21% above national |
| 60 | Charlottesville, VA | $57,140 | +21% above national |
| 61 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $57,100 | +21% above national |
| 62 | Jacksonville, FL | $57,000 | +21% above national |
| 63 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,130 | +19% above national |
| 64 | Chico, CA | $56,100 | +19% above national |
| 65 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $56,030 | +19% above national |
| 66 | Winston-Salem, NC | $55,990 | +18% above national |
| 67 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $55,950 | +18% above national |
| 68 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,680 | +18% above national |
| 69 | Burlington, NC | $55,530 | +17% above national |
| 70 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $55,380 | +17% above national |
| 71 | Spartanburg, SC | $55,170 | +17% above national |
| 72 | Salinas, CA | $55,140 | +17% above national |
| 73 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,070 | +17% above national |
| 74 | Richmond, VA | $55,020 | +16% above national |
| 75 | Jacksonville, NC | $54,900 | +16% above national |
| 76 | Bend, OR | $54,750 | +16% above national |
| 77 | Bellingham, WA | $53,050 | +12% above national |
| 78 | Roanoke, VA | $52,650 | +11% above national |
| 79 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,390 | +11% above national |
| 80 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $52,300 | +11% above national |
| 81 | Cleveland, OH | $52,060 | +10% above national |
| 82 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $51,890 | +10% above national |
| 83 | Morristown, TN | $51,770 | +10% above national |
| 84 | Bozeman, MT | $51,760 | +10% above national |
| 85 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $51,620 | +9% above national |
| 86 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $51,060 | +8% above national |
| 87 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $51,030 | +8% above national |
| 88 | Johnson City, TN | $51,010 | +8% above national |
| 89 | Fresno, CA | $50,960 | +8% above national |
| 90 | Boulder, CO | $50,840 | +8% above national |
| 91 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $50,730 | +7% above national |
| 92 | Columbus, OH | $50,730 | +7% above national |
| 93 | Visalia, CA | $50,590 | +7% above national |
| 94 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,520 | +7% above national |
| 95 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $50,490 | +7% above national |
| 96 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $49,750 | +5% above national |
| 97 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $49,750 | +5% above national |
| 98 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $49,620 | +5% above national |
| 99 | Yuma, AZ | $49,610 | +5% above national |
| 100 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $49,540 | +5% above national |
| 101 | Toledo, OH | $49,370 | +4% above national |
| 102 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,300 | +4% above national |
| 103 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $49,240 | +4% above national |
| 104 | Asheville, NC | $49,110 | +4% above national |
| 105 | Knoxville, TN | $49,050 | +4% above national |
| 106 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $48,960 | +4% above national |
| 107 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $48,940 | +4% above national |
| 108 | Akron, OH | $48,890 | +3% above national |
| 109 | Lynchburg, VA | $48,890 | +3% above national |
| 110 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,840 | +3% above national |
| 111 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $48,780 | +3% above national |
| 112 | Lancaster, PA | $48,620 | +3% above national |
| 113 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,530 | +3% above national |
| 114 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $48,450 | +3% above national |
| 115 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $48,440 | +2% above national |
| 116 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $48,410 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $48,390 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48,320 | +2% above national |
| 119 | Mansfield, OH | $48,260 | +2% above national |
| 120 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $48,190 | +2% above national |
| 121 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $48,120 | +2% above national |
| 122 | Missoula, MT | $48,050 | +2% above national |
| 123 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $47,900 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Reno, NV | $47,680 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $47,660 | +1% above national |
| 126 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $47,650 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $47,620 | +1% above national |
| 128 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $47,550 | +1% above national |
| 129 | Salem, OR | $47,550 | +1% above national |
| 130 | Jackson, TN | $47,480 | same as national |
| 131 | Rochester, MN | $47,460 | same as national |
| 132 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $47,360 | same as national |
| 133 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $47,310 | same as national |
| 134 | Florence, SC | $47,150 | same as national |
| 135 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $47,140 | same as national |
| 136 | Great Falls, MT | $47,120 | same as national |
| 137 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,090 | same as national |
| 138 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,970 | 1% below national |
| 139 | Tucson, AZ | $46,930 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $46,920 | 1% below national |
| 141 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $46,850 | 1% below national |
| 142 | Madison, WI | $46,480 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,470 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $46,450 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Greeley, CO | $46,440 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Savannah, GA | $46,440 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $46,270 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Billings, MT | $46,260 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $46,250 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Duluth, MN-WI | $46,240 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Yakima, WA | $46,240 | 2% below national |
| 152 | Columbia, SC | $46,150 | 2% below national |
| 153 | State College, PA | $46,150 | 2% below national |
| 154 | Albany, OR | $46,100 | 2% below national |
| 155 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $46,080 | 2% below national |
| 156 | Redding, CA | $46,040 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,030 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $46,020 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Salisbury, MD | $46,020 | 3% below national |
| 160 | Lebanon, PA | $46,010 | 3% below national |
| 161 | Iowa City, IA | $46,000 | 3% below national |
| 162 | Medford, OR | $45,930 | 3% below national |
| 163 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $45,930 | 3% below national |
| 164 | Hot Springs, AR | $45,790 | 3% below national |
| 165 | Bismarck, ND | $45,770 | 3% below national |
| 166 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $45,740 | 3% below national |
| 167 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $45,710 | 3% below national |
| 168 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $45,590 | 4% below national |
| 169 | Dubuque, IA | $45,560 | 4% below national |
| 170 | Kenosha, WI | $45,420 | 4% below national |
| 171 | Wilmington, NC | $45,400 | 4% below national |
| 172 | Bangor, ME | $45,360 | 4% below national |
| 173 | Gainesville, GA | $45,310 | 4% below national |
| 174 | York-Hanover, PA | $45,300 | 4% below national |
| 175 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $45,280 | 4% below national |
| 176 | Colorado Springs, CO | $45,240 | 4% below national |
| 177 | St. Cloud, MN | $45,210 | 4% below national |
| 178 | Ann Arbor, MI | $45,090 | 5% below national |
| 179 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $45,090 | 5% below national |
| 180 | Wausau, WI | $45,090 | 5% below national |
| 181 | Elizabethtown, KY | $45,070 | 5% below national |
| 182 | Fargo, ND-MN | $45,040 | 5% below national |
| 183 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $44,930 | 5% below national |
| 184 | Sheboygan, WI | $44,910 | 5% below national |
| 185 | Warner Robins, GA | $44,870 | 5% below national |
| 186 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $44,860 | 5% below national |
| 187 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $44,810 | 5% below national |
| 188 | Boise City, ID | $44,720 | 5% below national |
| 189 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $44,700 | 5% below national |
| 190 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $44,620 | 6% below national |
| 191 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $44,530 | 6% below national |
| 192 | Grand Junction, CO | $44,360 | 6% below national |
| 193 | Valdosta, GA | $44,220 | 6% below national |
| 194 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $44,190 | 6% below national |
| 195 | Eau Claire, WI | $43,910 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $43,830 | 7% below national |
| 197 | Green Bay, WI | $43,660 | 8% below national |
| 198 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $43,660 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Appleton, WI | $43,620 | 8% below national |
| 200 | Jefferson City, MO | $43,440 | 8% below national |
| 201 | Omaha, NE-IA | $43,340 | 8% below national |
| 202 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $43,280 | 8% below national |
| 203 | St. George, UT | $43,040 | 9% below national |
| 204 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $42,710 | 10% below national |
| 205 | Reading, PA | $42,470 | 10% below national |
| 206 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,070 | 11% below national |
| 207 | Rockford, IL | $42,070 | 11% below national |
| 208 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $42,070 | 11% below national |
| 209 | Pueblo, CO | $42,060 | 11% below national |
| 210 | Traverse City, MI | $42,050 | 11% below national |
| 211 | Idaho Falls, ID | $41,990 | 11% below national |
| 212 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $41,820 | 12% below national |
| 213 | Amarillo, TX | $41,710 | 12% below national |
| 214 | Lincoln, NE | $41,450 | 12% below national |
| 215 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $41,390 | 12% below national |
| 216 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $40,930 | 13% below national |
| 217 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $40,910 | 13% below national |
| 218 | Ames, IA | $40,860 | 14% below national |
| 219 | Odessa, TX | $40,570 | 14% below national |
| 220 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $40,560 | 14% below national |
| 221 | Santa Fe, NM | $40,200 | 15% below national |
| 222 | Bloomington, IL | $40,150 | 15% below national |
| 223 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $39,950 | 15% below national |
| 224 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $39,920 | 16% below national |
| 225 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,840 | 16% below national |
| 226 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $39,800 | 16% below national |
| 227 | Springfield, IL | $39,790 | 16% below national |
| 228 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $39,780 | 16% below national |
| 229 | Albany, GA | $39,670 | 16% below national |
| 230 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $39,580 | 16% below national |
| 231 | Ogden, UT | $39,540 | 16% below national |
| 232 | Columbus, GA-AL | $39,450 | 17% below national |
| 233 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,230 | 17% below national |
| 234 | Flint, MI | $39,230 | 17% below national |
| 235 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,230 | 17% below national |
| 236 | Paducah, KY-IL | $39,210 | 17% below national |
| 237 | Tulsa, OK | $39,190 | 17% below national |
| 238 | Erie, PA | $39,120 | 17% below national |
| 239 | Logan, UT-ID | $39,000 | 17% below national |
| 240 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $38,900 | 18% below national |
| 241 | Rapid City, SD | $38,760 | 18% below national |
| 242 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,670 | 18% below national |
| 243 | Saginaw, MI | $38,660 | 18% below national |
| 244 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $38,650 | 18% below national |
| 245 | Niles, MI | $38,590 | 18% below national |
| 246 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $38,510 | 19% below national |
| 247 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $38,510 | 19% below national |
| 248 | Kokomo, IN | $38,390 | 19% below national |
| 249 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $38,370 | 19% below national |
| 250 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,330 | 19% below national |
| 251 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $38,300 | 19% below national |
| 252 | Terre Haute, IN | $38,260 | 19% below national |
| 253 | Charleston, WV | $38,130 | 19% below national |
| 254 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $38,120 | 19% below national |
| 255 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $38,090 | 19% below national |
| 256 | Midland, TX | $38,080 | 19% below national |
| 257 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $38,070 | 19% below national |
| 258 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $38,050 | 19% below national |
| 259 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $38,000 | 20% below national |
| 260 | Abilene, TX | $37,920 | 20% below national |
| 261 | Bloomington, IN | $37,890 | 20% below national |
| 262 | Topeka, KS | $37,890 | 20% below national |
| 263 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $37,870 | 20% below national |
| 264 | Johnstown, PA | $37,860 | 20% below national |
| 265 | Wichita, KS | $37,850 | 20% below national |
| 266 | Grand Island, NE | $37,830 | 20% below national |
| 267 | Evansville, IN | $37,790 | 20% below national |
| 268 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $37,780 | 20% below national |
| 269 | Longview, TX | $37,760 | 20% below national |
| 270 | Huntsville, AL | $37,700 | 20% below national |
| 271 | Springfield, MO | $37,650 | 20% below national |
| 272 | Jackson, MS | $37,580 | 20% below national |
| 273 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $37,580 | 20% below national |
| 274 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $37,530 | 21% below national |
| 275 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $37,440 | 21% below national |
| 276 | Birmingham, AL | $37,410 | 21% below national |
| 277 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $37,410 | 21% below national |
| 278 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,370 | 21% below national |
| 279 | El Paso, TX | $37,120 | 21% below national |
| 280 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $37,080 | 22% below national |
| 281 | Peoria, IL | $37,040 | 22% below national |
| 282 | Bowling Green, KY | $37,000 | 22% below national |
| 283 | Baton Rouge, LA | $36,910 | 22% below national |
| 284 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $36,910 | 22% below national |
| 285 | Lubbock, TX | $36,790 | 22% below national |
| 286 | Morgantown, WV | $36,790 | 22% below national |
| 287 | Hattiesburg, MS | $36,770 | 22% below national |
| 288 | Wichita Falls, TX | $36,710 | 22% below national |
| 289 | Joplin, MO-KS | $36,680 | 22% below national |
| 290 | Columbia, MO | $36,600 | 23% below national |
| 291 | Muncie, IN | $36,600 | 23% below national |
| 292 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $36,500 | 23% below national |
| 293 | Montgomery, AL | $36,440 | 23% below national |
| 294 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $36,420 | 23% below national |
| 295 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $36,390 | 23% below national |
| 296 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $36,360 | 23% below national |
| 297 | Jonesboro, AR | $36,260 | 23% below national |
| 298 | Alexandria, LA | $36,160 | 23% below national |
| 299 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,100 | 24% below national |
| 300 | Mobile, AL | $35,960 | 24% below national |
| 301 | San Angelo, TX | $35,810 | 24% below national |
| 302 | Tyler, TX | $35,310 | 25% below national |
| 303 | Corpus Christi, TX | $35,300 | 25% below national |
| 304 | Lake Charles, LA | $35,130 | 26% below national |
| 305 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $35,110 | 26% below national |
| 306 | Laredo, TX | $34,960 | 26% below national |
| 307 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $34,860 | 26% below national |
| 308 | Waco, TX | $34,520 | 27% below national |
| 309 | Dothan, AL | $34,420 | 27% below national |
| 310 | Lafayette, LA | $34,300 | 27% below national |
| 311 | Victoria, TX | $34,280 | 27% below national |
| 312 | Monroe, LA | $33,410 | 29% below national |
| 313 | Ponce, PR | $29,070 | 38% below national |
| 314 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $28,980 | 39% below national |
| 315 | Mayaguez, PR | $28,370 | 40% below national |
| 316 | Arecibo, PR | $28,010 | 41% below national |
| 317 | Guayama, PR | $28,010 | 41% below national |
| 318 | Aguadilla, PR | $27,800 | 41% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Acupuncturists
SOC 29-1291
Anesthesiologists
SOC 29-1211
Athletic Trainers
SOC 29-9091
Audiologists
SOC 29-1181
Cardiologists
SOC 29-1212
Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($47,260 here) and reported employment (73,530 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Opticians, Dispensing make? ▼
Where does Opticians, Dispensing pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Opticians, Dispensing the most? ▼
What education do Opticians, Dispensing need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Opticians, Dispensing? ▼
Is Opticians, Dispensing a good career? ▼
How does Opticians, Dispensing pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Opticians, Dispensing? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Opticians, Dispensing pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $61,700/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Connecticut leads at $75,300/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.