How much does an optician make in Chicago?
$44,530a year
Median yearly pay for opticians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $21.41 an hour or $3,711 a month.
- Hourly
- $21.41
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 191 of 318
- Jobs in the area
- 2,420
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $37,530Median: $44,530Highest 10%: $63,560
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,530 | $18.04 | |
| 25th | $39,230 | $18.86 | |
| Median | $44,530 | $21.41 | |
| 75th | $48,750 | $23.44 | |
| 90th | $63,560 | $30.56 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for opticians.
| Davenport, IA | $42,070 |
| Rockford, IL | $42,070 |
| Bloomington, IL | $40,150 |
| Springfield, IL | $39,790 |
| St. Louis, MO | $39,230 |
| Peoria, IL | $37,040 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $36,100 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Radiologist | $479,900 |
| Cardiologist | $475,600 |
| Surgeon | $462,600 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $446,500 |
| Dermatologist | $435,800 |
| Physician | $336,700 |
| Ophthalmologist | $284,600 |
| Dentist | $269,200 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $265,900 |
| Psychiatrist | $258,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an optician make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $21.41 ($44,530 a year).
Do opticians make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $44,530 against $47,260 nationally, 6% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $43,960, so Chicago pays 1% more.
Where does Chicago rank for optician pay?
191 of 318 metro areas with data.
How much does an optician make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $63,560 or more.
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.