Salary · IL · SOC 29-2081

Optician salary in Illinois, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for opticians, dispensing in Illinois, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for opticians, dispensing in Illinois was $43,960 a year, or $21.14 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $37,080 to $62,830. About 3,250 were employed.

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Optician pay in Illinois vs the US

Optician wages in Illinois and the US, May 2025
Measure	IL annual	IL hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$43,960	$21.14	$47,260
Mean (average)	$46,020	$22.13	$51,770
10th percentile	$37,080	$17.83	$35,610
25th percentile	$38,190	$18.36	$38,820
75th percentile	$47,850	$23.01	$61,700
90th percentile	$62,830	$30.21	$76,750

Employment in Illinois: 3,250. Location quotient: 1.13 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Optician salary by metro area in Illinois

Optician median wage by metro area, Illinois
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$44,530	$21.41	2,420
Peoria, IL	$37,040	$17.81	150
Bloomington, IL	$40,150	$19.30	80
Rockford, IL	$42,070	$20.23	60
Springfield, IL	$39,790	$19.13	60
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$37,080	$17.83	40
St. Louis, MO-IL	$39,230	$18.86	750
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$42,070	$20.23	90
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$36,100	$17.36	50
Paducah, KY-IL	$39,210	$18.85	30

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Optician salary in Illinois

Median pay: $43,960 a year ($21.14 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $37,080 to $62,830 a year

Employed: 3,250

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Optician salary in Illinois</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$43,960</strong> a year ($21.14 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $37,080 to $62,830 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 3,250</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optician/il" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optician make per hour in Illinois?

The median hourly wage was $21.14 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $17.83 and the 90th was $30.21.

What is the average Optician salary in Illinois?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $46,020 a year and a median of $43,960 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do opticians, dispensing in Illinois earn more than the US median?

The Illinois median of $43,960 is 7% lower than the US median of $47,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Illinois rank for optician pay?

Illinois ranks 34 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.