How much does a Opticians, Dispensing make?

The median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing is $47,260 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,610 at the 10th percentile to $76,750 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Opticians, Dispensing?

The average (mean) annual salary is $51,770, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Opticians, Dispensings the most?

Connecticut has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $75,300.

Is Opticians, Dispensing a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 74K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Opticians, Dispensing do?

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.; Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs..

Opticians, Dispensing Salary

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 74K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$47,260

Median hourly

$23

Average annual

$51,770

Typical range

$35,610–$76,750

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$35,610

25th$38,820

Median$47,260

75th$61,700

90th$76,750

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Opticians, Dispensing is $47,260 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses.

Most earn between $35,610 and $76,750 a year. There are roughly 74K people employed as opticians, dispensing in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Opticians, Dispensing.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $22.72
Daily: $182
Weekly: $909
Bi-weekly: $1,818
Monthly: $3,938
Annual: $47,260

$47,260 a year is around the 50th percentile for Opticians, Dispensings. The median is $47,260.

Opticians, Dispensing — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$17.10	$35,610
25th percentile	$18.70	$38,820
Median	$22.70	$47,260
75th percentile	$29.70	$61,700
90th percentile	$36.90	$76,750
Average (mean)	$24.90	$51,770
Employment	73,530 people

Key skills

Speaking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Service Orientation
Writing
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Persuasion
Active Learning

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Connecticut$75,300
2Hawaii$75,300
3New Jersey$72,460
4Massachusetts$67,210
5New York$63,880
6District of Columbia$61,310
7Florida$58,850
8Alaska$58,250
9California$57,990
10Vermont$57,350
11Virginia$55,820
12New Hampshire$51,980

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Vallejo, CA$78,830
2Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$78,600
3Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$77,460
4Waterbury-Shelton, CT$76,820
5Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$76,170
6Urban Honolulu, HI$75,300
7New Haven, CT$72,410
8Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$72,290
9Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$71,440
10New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$71,050
11Springfield, MA$71,000
12Barnstable Town, MA$69,530

Related job titles

Employers advertise Opticians, Dispensing roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Opticians, Dispensing does

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.
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.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Opticians, Dispensing make?: The median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing is $47,260 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $35,610 at the 10th percentile to $76,750 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Opticians, Dispensing?: The average (mean) annual salary is $51,770, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Opticians, Dispensings the most?: Connecticut has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $75,300.
Is Opticians, Dispensing a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 74K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Opticians, Dispensing do?: 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.; Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs..