Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Optician salary
Average optician salary
$38,412
Average Optician Salary
The average salary for an optician in the United States is approximately $38,412 annually, or around $18 per hour. However, salaries can fluctuate significantly depending on factors like geographical location, years of experience, and workplace setting. For instance, opticians in urban areas often earn more compared to those in rural settings.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level opticians generally start at lower rates, while those with several years in the field typically earn higher wages. Specialized roles, such as those focusing on contact lenses or advanced optical technology, can also command higher pay.
Where Can Opticians Earn More?
Some states offer higher salaries for opticians. For example, states like California, New York, and Texas are known for providing competitive wages in this profession. Additionally, local demand for opticians can affect salary levels, making it beneficial for job seekers to research specific markets.
Job Opportunities
With the growing demand for eyewear and eye care services, opticians can find numerous job opportunities across different healthcare settings. Whether in retail optical stores, private practices, or hospitals, there is potential for career growth in this rewarding field.
Let Zippia find your next optician job
Let Zippia find your next optician job
Where can an Optician earn more?
Optician salary estimates from across the web
Average optician salary by state
The average optician salary in New York, California, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average optician salary states are Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for opticians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $45,032 | $21.65 |
| 2 | Arizona | $41,065 | $19.74 |
| 3 | California | $45,386 | $21.82 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $40,466 | $19.45 |
| 5 | New York | $47,109 | $22.65 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 7 | Oregon | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| 8 | Montana | $38,337 | $18.43 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $37,102 | $17.84 |
| 10 | Utah | $37,559 | $18.06 |
| 11 | Ohio | $38,571 | $18.54 |
| 12 | Vermont | $40,486 | $19.46 |
| 13 | Kentucky | $37,487 | $18.02 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $38,111 | $18.32 |
| 15 | Washington | $37,861 | $18.20 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $42,654 | $20.51 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $37,735 | $18.14 |
| 18 | Maine | $38,304 | $18.42 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $37,243 | $17.91 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $36,326 | $17.46 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $36,802 | $17.69 |
| 23 | Colorado | $37,155 | $17.86 |
| 24 | Idaho | $35,661 | $17.14 |
| 25 | Nevada | $35,681 | $17.15 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $35,440 | $17.04 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $36,306 | $17.45 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $35,893 | $17.26 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $35,115 | $16.88 |
| 30 | Virginia | $37,146 | $17.86 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $35,959 | $17.29 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $36,842 | $17.71 |
| 33 | Maryland | $35,952 | $17.28 |
| 34 | Missouri | $35,021 | $16.84 |
| 35 | Iowa | $33,627 | $16.17 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | $33,559 | $16.13 |
| 37 | Kansas | $32,979 | $15.86 |
| 38 | Illinois | $33,701 | $16.20 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $33,717 | $16.21 |
| 40 | Michigan | $32,895 | $15.81 |
| 41 | Delaware | $32,830 | $15.78 |
| 42 | Georgia | $31,118 | $14.96 |
| 43 | Texas | $32,798 | $15.77 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $32,550 | $15.65 |
| 45 | Florida | $26,413 | $12.70 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $31,256 | $15.03 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $31,266 | $15.03 |
| 48 | Indiana | $31,814 | $15.30 |
| 49 | Alabama | $30,854 | $14.83 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | $31,892 | $15.33 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $26,745 | $12.86 |
Highest paying cities for opticians
The highest-paying cities for opticians are San Francisco, CA, Rochester, NY, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $47,345 | $22.76 |
| 2 | Rochester, NY | $47,333 | $22.76 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $43,622 | $20.97 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $40,525 | $19.48 |
| 5 | Duluth, MN | $38,494 | $18.51 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $38,241 | $18.39 |
| 7 | Alexandria, VA | $37,719 | $18.13 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $37,246 | $17.91 |
| 9 | Paramus, NJ | $37,240 | $17.90 |
| 10 | Alexandria, LA | $36,781 | $17.68 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $36,094 | $17.35 |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $35,473 | $17.05 |
| 13 | Madison, MS | $35,161 | $16.90 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $35,055 | $16.85 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $33,788 | $16.24 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,731 | $16.22 |
| 17 | San Antonio, TX | $33,161 | $15.94 |
| 18 | Green Bay, WI | $33,120 | $15.92 |
| 19 | Troy, MI | $33,018 | $15.87 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $31,903 | $15.34 |
Optician salary details
An optician's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $50,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an optician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $38,412 | $3,201 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying optician jobs
The highest paying types of opticians are ophthalmic dispenser, contact lens fitter, and licensed dispensing optician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometric Technician | $30,928 | $2,577 | $14.87 | 33,412 |
| Optician Apprentice | $37,698 | $3,141 | $18.12 | 10,174 |
| Optical Manager | $39,584 | $3,299 | $19.03 | 6,274 |
| Optical Technician | $36,908 | $3,076 | $17.74 | 29,866 |
| Licensed Optician | $45,625 | $3,802 | $21.93 | 14,216 |
Top companies hiring opticians now:
Which companies pay opticians the most?
Optician salaries at Horizon Laser Vision and AMETEK are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average optician salary at companies like Discover Vision and Virginia Eye Institute are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horizon Laser Vision | $56,688 | $27.25 |
| 2 | AMETEK | $53,942 | $25.93 |
| 3 | Discover Vision | $48,102 | $23.13 |
| 4 | Virginia Eye Institute | $47,931 | $23.04 |
| 5 | University of California | $46,914 | $22.55 |
| 6 | New York State Restaurant Association | $46,909 | $22.55 |
| 7 | Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center | $45,524 | $21.89 |
| 8 | Specialty Care Services Group, LLC | $45,150 | $21.71 |
| 9 | The Eye Care Group | $45,059 | $21.66 |
| 10 | ProMedica Toledo Hospital | $44,747 | $21.51 |
| 11 | Cheshire Medical Center | $44,627 | $21.46 |
| 12 | Illinois College of Optometry | $44,407 | $21.35 |
| 13 | Kaiser Permanente | $44,164 | $21.23 |
| 14 | Dean Mcgee Eye Institute | $43,491 | $20.91 |
| 15 | CVS Health | $42,853 | $20.60 |
| 16 | PeaceHealth | $42,377 | $20.37 |
| 17 | Blue Ridge | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| 18 | Oregon Health & Science University | $41,307 | $19.86 |
| 19 | University of Rochester | $40,995 | $19.71 |
| 20 | Lahey Health Behavioral Services | $40,592 | $19.52 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Optician salary trends
The average optician salary has risen by $5,414 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average optician earned $32,998 annually, but today, they earn $38,412 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for opticians over the last decade.
Compare optician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average optician salary over time
Compare optician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Optician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $38,400 | $18.47 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $37,700 | $18.14 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $36,900 | $17.74 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $36,100 | $17.37 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $35,400 | $17.03 | +1.9% |
Recently added optician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warby Parker | Optician, -Gold Coast | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $39,131 |
| Warby Parker | Optician, -Valley Fair | Santa Clara, CA | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| VSP Global | Optician/Optical Administrator | Gautier, MS | 06/28/2025 | $39,236 |
| Salud Para La Gente | Optician | Corralitos, CA | 06/28/2025 | $49,420 |
| VSP Retail | Optician/Optical Administrator | Gautier, MS | 06/28/2025 | $39,236 |
| Shopko | Optician | Red Wing, MN | 06/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| Wal-Mart | (USA) Optician Sam's | Dothan, AL | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Wal-Mart | Optician Sam's | Janesville, WI | 06/27/2025 | $40,697 |
| Walmart | (USA) Optician Sam's | Kenner, LA | 06/25/2025 | $33,392 |
| PDS Optical | Travel Optician | Decatur, GA | 06/25/2025 | $66,784 |
Optician salary FAQs
Search for optician jobs