Salary · SOC 29-2081
Optician salary and hourly pay
BLS data for May 2025: median, mean, and percentile pay, per year and per hour, for every state and the largest metro areas.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Optician pay in the US
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Mean (average) | $51,770 | $24.89 |
| 10th percentile | $35,610 | $17.12 |
| 25th percentile | $38,820 | $18.66 |
| 75th percentile | $61,700 | $29.66 |
| 90th percentile | $76,750 | $36.90 |
Employment: 73,530.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Optician salary by state
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 | $36.20 | 610 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 | $36.20 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 | $34.84 | 2,010 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 | $32.31 | 1,360 |
| New York | $63,880 | $30.71 | 3,520 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 | $29.48 | 80 |
| Florida | $58,850 | $28.30 | 5,080 |
| Alaska | $58,250 | $28.01 | 90 |
| California | $57,990 | $27.88 | 7,840 |
| Vermont | $57,350 | $27.57 | 70 |
| Virginia | $55,820 | $26.84 | 1,860 |
| New Hampshire | $51,980 | $24.99 | 440 |
| Ohio | $50,500 | $24.28 | 2,960 |
| North Carolina | $50,190 | $24.13 | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $49,840 | $23.96 | 1,530 |
| Washington | $49,220 | $23.66 | 2,100 |
| Oregon | $49,210 | $23.66 | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $48,700 | $23.41 | 1,060 |
| Arizona | $48,210 | $23.18 | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,020 | $23.09 | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48,010 | $23.08 | 2,290 |
| South Carolina | $48,000 | $23.08 | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 | $22.79 | 350 |
| Colorado | $47,310 | $22.74 | 1,520 |
| Maine | $47,220 | $22.70 | 350 |
| Montana | $47,050 | $22.62 | 330 |
| Nevada | $46,910 | $22.55 | 960 |
| Delaware | $46,220 | $22.22 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,450 | $21.85 | 2,230 |
| North Dakota | $45,230 | $21.74 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $44,820 | $21.55 | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $44,480 | $21.39 | 920 |
| Kentucky | $44,290 | $21.29 | 950 |
| Illinois | $43,960 | $21.14 | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $43,950 | $21.13 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $43,400 | $20.87 | 430 |
| Arkansas | $42,880 | $20.62 | 690 |
| Utah | $41,780 | $20.09 | 700 |
| Michigan | $41,180 | $19.80 | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $40,140 | $19.30 | 630 |
| Nebraska | $39,830 | $19.15 | 870 |
| Indiana | $39,370 | $18.93 | 2,010 |
| Wyoming | $39,100 | $18.80 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $39,090 | $18.80 | 340 |
| Missouri | $38,750 | $18.63 | 1,600 |
| Texas | $38,720 | $18.61 | 6,700 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | $18.33 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $37,940 | $18.24 | 730 |
| Alabama | $36,880 | $17.73 | 880 |
| Mississippi | $36,680 | $17.63 | 560 |
| Louisiana | $36,360 | $17.48 | 720 |
Download the state table (CSV)
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Optician salary in the largest metro areas
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
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Questions
How much does an Optician make per hour in the US?
The median hourly wage was $22.72 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $17.12 and the 90th was $36.90.
What is the average Optician salary in the US?
BLS reports a mean (average) of $51,770 a year and a median of $47,260 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.
Which state pays opticians, dispensing the most?
Connecticut has the highest median, $75,300 a year, and Louisiana the lowest, $36,360 (BLS, May 2025, states with a published median).
Where do these numbers come from?
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-2081. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.