Salary · TN · SOC 29-2081

Optician salary in Tennessee, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for opticians, dispensing in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee was $49,840 a year, or $23.96 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $34,740 to $74,160. About 1,530 were employed.

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Optician pay in Tennessee vs the US

Optician wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$49,840	$23.96	$47,260
Mean (average)	$51,920	$24.96	$51,770
10th percentile	$34,740	$16.70	$35,610
25th percentile	$37,620	$18.09	$38,820
75th percentile	$63,100	$30.34	$61,700
90th percentile	$74,160	$35.65	$76,750

Employment in Tennessee: 1,530. Location quotient: 0.98 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Optician salary by metro area in Tennessee

Optician median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$52,300	$25.14	440
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$47,620	$22.89	220
Knoxville, TN	$49,050	$23.58	190
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$47,140	$22.66	130
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$38,510	$18.52	110
Clarksville, TN-KY	$47,660	$22.91	60
Jackson, TN	$47,480	$22.83	60
Johnson City, TN	$51,010	$24.53	60
Morristown, TN	$51,770	$24.89	50

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

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Optician salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $49,840 a year ($23.96 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $34,740 to $74,160 a year

Employed: 1,530

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 Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$49,840</strong> a year ($23.96 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $34,740 to $74,160 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 1,530</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optician/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optician make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $23.96 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $16.70 and the 90th was $35.65.

What is the average Optician salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $51,920 a year and a median of $49,840 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The Tennessee median of $49,840 is 5% higher than the US median of $47,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for optician pay?

Tennessee ranks 15 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.