Salary · CA · SOC 29-2081
Optician salary in California, per year and per hour
BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for opticians, dispensing in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Optician pay in California vs the US
| Measure | CA annual | CA hourly | US annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,990 | $27.88 | $47,260 |
| Mean (average) | $61,070 | $29.36 | $51,770 |
| 10th percentile | $42,390 | $20.38 | $35,610 |
| 25th percentile | $47,050 | $22.62 | $38,820 |
| 75th percentile | $77,460 | $37.24 | $61,700 |
| 90th percentile | $81,680 | $39.27 | $76,750 |
Employment in California: 7,840. Location quotient: 0.91 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Optician salary by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,130 | $26.98 | 3,070 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,360 | $28.06 | 940 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,070 | $26.48 | 870 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,240 | $29.92 | 580 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,240 | $28.00 | 490 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,480 | $29.08 | 390 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,960 | $24.50 | 160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,520 | $24.29 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,970 | $22.58 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $59,010 | $28.37 | 120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,460 | $37.24 | 120 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,250 | $28.01 | 120 |
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 | $37.90 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $55,140 | $26.51 | 50 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $55,950 | $26.90 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,680 | $26.77 | 50 |
| Napa, CA | $57,620 | $27.70 | 40 |
| Redding, CA | $46,040 | $22.13 | 40 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $55,380 | $26.63 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $50,590 | $24.32 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $56,100 | $26.97 | 30 |
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 California?
The median hourly wage was $27.88 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $20.38 and the 90th was $39.27.
What is the average Optician salary in California?
BLS reports a mean (average) of $61,070 a year and a median of $57,990 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.
Do opticians, dispensing in California earn more than the US median?
The California median of $57,990 is 23% higher than the US median of $47,260 (BLS, May 2025).
How does California rank for optician pay?
California ranks 9 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for opticians, dispensing (BLS, May 2025).
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.