Salary · PA · SOC 29-2081

Optician salary in Pennsylvania, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for opticians, dispensing in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania was $45,450 a year, or $21.85 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $36,160 to $58,450. About 2,230 were employed.

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Optician pay in Pennsylvania vs the US

Optician wages in Pennsylvania and the US, May 2025
Measure	PA annual	PA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$45,450	$21.85	$47,260
Mean (average)	$46,330	$22.27	$51,770
10th percentile	$36,160	$17.39	$35,610
25th percentile	$38,460	$18.49	$38,820
75th percentile	$49,620	$23.86	$61,700
90th percentile	$58,450	$28.10	$76,750

Employment in Pennsylvania: 2,230. Location quotient: 0.78 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Optician salary by metro area in Pennsylvania

Optician median wage by metro area, Pennsylvania
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$49,300	$23.70	1,070
Pittsburgh, PA	$46,470	$22.34	450
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$48,190	$23.17	150
Lancaster, PA	$48,620	$23.37	120
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$44,860	$21.57	120
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$45,710	$21.98	100
York-Hanover, PA	$45,300	$21.78	100
Erie, PA	$39,120	$18.81	70
Reading, PA	$42,470	$20.42	60
Lebanon, PA	$46,010	$22.12	40
State College, PA	$46,150	$22.19	40
Johnstown, PA	$37,860	$18.20	30

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

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Optician salary in Pennsylvania

Median pay: $45,450 a year ($21.85 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $36,160 to $58,450 a year

Employed: 2,230

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 Pennsylvania</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$45,450</strong> a year ($21.85 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $36,160 to $58,450 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 2,230</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optician/pa" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optician make per hour in Pennsylvania?

The median hourly wage was $21.85 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $17.39 and the 90th was $28.10.

What is the average Optician salary in Pennsylvania?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $46,330 a year and a median of $45,450 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The Pennsylvania median of $45,450 is 4% lower than the US median of $47,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Pennsylvania rank for optician pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 29 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.