How much does an optician make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $22.72 an hour or $3,938 a month.
- Hourly
- $22.72
- Average (mean)
- $51,770
- Jobs
- 73,530
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,610 | $17.12 | |
| 25th | $38,820 | $18.66 | |
| Median | $47,260 | $22.72 | |
| 75th | $61,700 | $29.66 | |
| 90th | $76,750 | $36.90 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Connecticut | $75,300 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 |
| New York | $63,880 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 |
| Florida | $58,850 |
| Alaska | $58,250 |
| California | $57,990 |
| Vermont | $57,350 |
| Virginia | $55,820 |
| New Hampshire | $51,980 |
| Ohio | $50,500 |
| North Carolina | $50,190 |
| Tennessee | $49,840 |
| Washington | $49,220 |
| Oregon | $49,210 |
| Maryland | $48,700 |
| Arizona | $48,210 |
| Minnesota | $48,020 |
| Georgia | $48,010 |
| South Carolina | $48,000 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 |
| Colorado | $47,310 |
| Maine | $47,220 |
| Montana | $47,050 |
| Nevada | $46,910 |
| Delaware | $46,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,450 |
| North Dakota | $45,230 |
| Wisconsin | $44,820 |
| Iowa | $44,480 |
| Kentucky | $44,290 |
| Illinois | $43,960 |
| Idaho | $43,950 |
| South Dakota | $43,400 |
| Arkansas | $42,880 |
| Utah | $41,780 |
| Michigan | $41,180 |
| Kansas | $40,140 |
| Nebraska | $39,830 |
| Indiana | $39,370 |
| Wyoming | $39,100 |
| New Mexico | $39,090 |
| Missouri | $38,750 |
| Texas | $38,720 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 |
| Oklahoma | $37,940 |
| Alabama | $36,880 |
| Mississippi | $36,680 |
| Louisiana | $36,360 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $78,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $77,460 |
| Waterbury, CT | $76,820 |
| Norwich, CT | $76,170 |
| Honolulu, HI | $75,300 |
| New Haven, CT | $72,410 |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $72,290 |
| Hartford, CT | $71,440 |
| New York, NY | $71,050 |
| Springfield, MA | $71,000 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $69,530 |
| Syracuse, NY | $68,880 |
| Worcester, MA | $67,630 |
| Trenton, NJ | $67,110 |
In other countries
Optician belongs to the international group "Dispensing opticians".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$62,930
- Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$74,310
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist$101,400
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist$95,480
- Medical Dosimetrist$147,500
- Emergency Medical Technician$44,470
- Paramedic$60,600
- Dietetic Technician$37,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does an optician make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $22.72 ($47,260 a year).
How much does an optician make a month?
About $3,938 a month before tax, based on a median of $47,260 a year.
How much does an optician make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $35,610 or less a year ($17.12 an hour); the top 10% make $76,750 or more.
Which state pays opticians the most?
Connecticut, with a median of $75,300 a year, followed by Hawaii ($75,300) and New Jersey ($72,460).
Which city pays opticians the most?
Vallejo, CA, with a median of $78,830 a year.
How many opticians are there in the United States?
About 73,530 people work as opticians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.