San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · SOC 29-2081

Opticians, Dispensing in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$58,240

per year in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

+23% above

National Median

$47,260

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$28.00/hr

median hourly

Employment

490

jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

BLS metro-level wage data places Opticians, Dispensing pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at a median of $58,240 per year ($28.00/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $47,260, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pays +23% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 490 opticians, dispensings are employed across the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA in SOC 29-2081.

The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pay distribution spans from $45,640 at the 10th percentile to $80,240 at the 90th — a 1.8× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $48,720 and the 75th at $77,460, so half of San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad-based opticians, dispensings earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide CA data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

Annual Salary Distribution

$45,640$48,720$58,240$77,460$80,240
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$45,640

25th Percentile

$48,720

Median

$58,240

75th Percentile

$77,460

90th Percentile

$80,240

Top Paying Jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

Similar Occupations in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad

Other roles inside the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Opticians, Dispensing make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
The median annual salary for Opticians, Dispensing in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $58,240 ($28.00/hour). The salary range spans from $45,640 at the 10th percentile to $80,240 at the 90th percentile.
Is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad a good place to work as a Opticians, Dispensing?
Opticians, Dispensing in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earns +23% above the national median of $47,260. There are approximately 490 Opticians, Dispensing jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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