Optician Salary by State
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing
Opticians earned a median $47,260 a year ($22.72 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing).
The middle half earned between $38,820 and $61,700.
BLS counts licensed and unlicensed dispensing opticians together.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Opticians, Dispensing
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| 25th | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| 50th (median) | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| 75th | $61,700 | $29.66 |
| 90th | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Mean (average) | $51,770 | $24.89 |
SOC 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing: 73,530 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | $59,640 | — |
| Offices of physicians (includes ophthalmology practices) | $48,590 | — |
| Health and personal care retailers (includes optical goods stores) | $47,460 | — |
| Offices of optometrists (NAICS 621320) | $45,320 | $21.79 |
Median annual wage for SOC 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing by industry, national, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Optician Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $47,260; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,880 | $17.73 | $31,000–$47,720 | 880 | −22% |
| Alaska | $58,250 | $28.01 | $38,940–$75,760 | 90 | +23% |
| Arizona | $48,210 | $23.18 | $39,890–$75,300 | 1,400 | +2% |
| Arkansas | $42,880 | $20.62 | $30,100–$73,890 | 690 | −9% |
| California | $57,990 | $27.88 | $42,390–$81,680 | 7,840 | +23% |
| Colorado | $47,310 | $22.74 | $38,900–$66,160 | 1,520 | +0% |
| Connecticut | $75,300 | $36.20 | $48,700–$85,070 | 610 | +59% |
| Delaware | $46,220 | $22.22 | $31,200–$60,790 | 270 | −2% |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 | $29.48 | $45,190–$86,110 | 80 | +30% |
| Florida | $58,850 | $28.30 | $36,510–$75,480 | 5,080 | +25% |
| Georgia | $48,010 | $23.08 | $36,800–$74,120 | 2,290 | +2% |
| Hawaii | $75,300 | $36.20 | $41,080–$80,910 | 110 | +59% |
| Idaho | $43,950 | $21.13 | $34,730–$75,300 | 530 | −7% |
| Illinois | $43,960 | $21.14 | $37,080–$62,830 | 3,250 | −7% |
| Indiana | $39,370 | $18.93 | $31,930–$49,960 | 2,010 | −17% |
| Iowa | $44,480 | $21.39 | $37,270–$53,790 | 920 | −6% |
| Kansas | $40,140 | $19.30 | $36,050–$48,480 | 630 | −15% |
| Kentucky | $44,290 | $21.29 | $30,190–$65,130 | 950 | −6% |
| Louisiana | $36,360 | $17.48 | $28,840–$46,870 | 720 | −23% |
| Maine | $47,220 | $22.70 | $39,110–$60,190 | 350 | −0% |
| Maryland | $48,700 | $23.41 | $37,100–$64,830 | 1,060 | +3% |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 | $32.31 | $48,850–$83,550 | 1,360 | +42% |
| Michigan | $41,180 | $19.80 | $34,610–$52,090 | 3,080 | −13% |
| Minnesota | $48,020 | $23.09 | $36,920–$67,490 | 1,490 | +2% |
| Mississippi | $36,680 | $17.63 | $28,180–$47,210 | 560 | −22% |
| Missouri | $38,750 | $18.63 | $34,110–$54,810 | 1,600 | −18% |
| Montana | $47,050 | $22.62 | $36,240–$64,730 | 330 | −0% |
| Nebraska | $39,830 | $19.15 | $35,800–$52,670 | 870 | −16% |
| Nevada | $46,910 | $22.55 | $38,090–$84,660 | 960 | −1% |
| New Hampshire | $51,980 | $24.99 | $41,130–$66,670 | 440 | +10% |
| New Jersey | $72,460 | $34.84 | $47,110–$85,020 | 2,010 | +53% |
| New Mexico | $39,090 | $18.80 | $31,010–$72,920 | 340 | −17% |
| New York | $63,880 | $30.71 | $43,060–$81,200 | 3,520 | +35% |
| North Carolina | $50,190 | $24.13 | $36,500–$81,340 | 2,020 | +6% |
| North Dakota | $45,230 | $21.74 | $37,220–$56,100 | 230 | −4% |
| Ohio | $50,500 | $24.28 | $35,830–$65,280 | 2,960 | +7% |
| Oklahoma | $37,940 | $18.24 | $29,530–$54,310 | 730 | −20% |
| Oregon | $49,210 | $23.66 | $39,480–$76,750 | 1,000 | +4% |
| Pennsylvania | $45,450 | $21.85 | $36,160–$58,450 | 2,230 | −4% |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 | $22.79 | $38,480–$77,130 | 350 | +0% |
| South Carolina | $48,000 | $23.08 | $36,240–$73,890 | 890 | +2% |
| South Dakota | $43,400 | $20.87 | $32,390–$49,730 | 430 | −8% |
| Tennessee | $49,840 | $23.96 | $34,740–$74,160 | 1,530 | +5% |
| Texas | $38,720 | $18.61 | $29,970–$58,240 | 6,700 | −18% |
| Utah | $41,780 | $20.09 | $35,680–$76,750 | 700 | −12% |
| Vermont | $57,350 | $27.57 | $41,600–$76,850 | 70 | +21% |
| Virginia | $55,820 | $26.84 | $36,360–$77,460 | 1,860 | +18% |
| Washington | $49,220 | $23.66 | $41,120–$78,830 | 2,100 | +4% |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | $18.33 | $31,250–$52,370 | 350 | −19% |
| Wisconsin | $44,820 | $21.55 | $36,680–$60,320 | 1,430 | −5% |
| Wyoming | $39,100 | $18.80 | $33,110–$53,840 | 130 | −17% |
Job outlook
BLS projects dispensing optician employment to grow from 74,300 to 77,400 jobs from 2025 to 2035 (+4.2%), with about 5,600 openings a year.
Projections count the self-employed and come from a separate BLS program, so their job count differs from the OEWS wage-and-salary count above.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2), SOC 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing. Projected employment includes the self-employed.
Pay by eye care role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Optometrists, opticians, ophthalmic technicians and optical lab technicians each match a BLS occupation; front desk and billing staff borrow the closest available occupation, shown for offices of optometrists.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136,570 | BLS occupation (SOC 29-1041) |
| Optician | $47,260 | BLS occupation (SOC 29-2081) |
| Optical Lab Technician | $39,460 | BLS occupation (SOC 51-9083) |
| Ophthalmic Technician | $45,570 | BLS occupation (SOC 29-2057) |
| Optometry Front Desk | $37,740 | Closest available occupation (SOC 43-4171, offices of optometrists) |
| Optometry Billing Specialist | $45,130 | Closest available occupation (SOC 43-3021, offices of optometrists) |
Optician salary questions
01How much do opticians make a year?
The median annual wage for opticians, dispensing (SOC 29-2081) was $47,260 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Half earned more and half earned less. The 10th percentile was $35,610 and the 90th percentile $76,750.
02How much do opticians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for opticians, dispensing was $22.72 in May 2025. BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime, per diem or bonuses.
03Which state pays opticians, dispensing the most?
Connecticut had the highest median in May 2025 at $75,300. Louisiana had the lowest at $36,360. These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average optician salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for opticians, dispensing was $51,770 in May 2025, against a $47,260 median. The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05Which employers pay opticians, dispensing the most?
Of the industries listed above, general medical and surgical hospitals had the highest median for opticians, dispensing in May 2025 at $59,640. Offices of optometrists (NAICS 621320) had the lowest of those listed at $45,320.
06Does BLS split licensed and unlicensed opticians?
No. BLS counts licensed and unlicensed dispensing opticians together in one occupation, so these figures cover both. BLS does not publish optician pay by licensure status.