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Optical technician salary
Average optical technician salary
$36,908
Understanding Optical Technician Salaries
The average salary for an Optical Technician is approximately $36,908 annually, translating to about $18 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one works. For instance, Optical Technicians in states like California and New York often report higher earnings due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Top-Paying Industries
Some of the highest-paying industries for Optical Technicians include healthcare, optometry, and retail optical services. As the demand for eye care continues to grow, opportunities in these fields expand, offering competitive salaries and benefits. Additionally, gaining specialized certifications or skills can further enhance earning potential.
Salary by State
Understanding how salaries differ by state is crucial for job seekers. For example, Optical Technicians in Washington and Texas may find more lucrative opportunities compared to those in less populated regions. Utilizing resources like Zippia can help you navigate these disparities effectively, guiding you toward the best job opportunities in your desired location.
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Where can an Optical Technician earn more?
Optical technician salary estimates from across the web
Average optical technician salary by state
The average optical technician salary in Alaska, Oregon, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average optical technician salary states are Indiana, Georgia, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for optical technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $43,718 | $21.02 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| 3 | New York | $40,619 | $19.53 |
| 4 | Arizona | $39,806 | $19.14 |
| 5 | Nevada | $36,381 | $17.49 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $38,759 | $18.63 |
| 7 | Utah | $37,168 | $17.87 |
| 8 | Oregon | $42,883 | $20.62 |
| 9 | Vermont | $37,014 | $17.80 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $36,127 | $17.37 |
| 11 | Maine | $34,660 | $16.66 |
| 12 | Florida | $35,346 | $16.99 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $37,496 | $18.03 |
| 14 | Colorado | $36,412 | $17.51 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $34,975 | $16.81 |
| 16 | California | $40,897 | $19.66 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $35,749 | $17.19 |
| 18 | Montana | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| 19 | Ohio | $35,295 | $16.97 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $34,027 | $16.36 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $35,593 | $17.11 |
| 22 | Washington | $36,557 | $17.58 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $33,596 | $16.15 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $39,701 | $19.09 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $34,889 | $16.77 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $34,823 | $16.74 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $33,998 | $16.35 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $34,578 | $16.62 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $35,143 | $16.90 |
| 30 | Virginia | $36,215 | $17.41 |
| 31 | Missouri | $32,734 | $15.74 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $33,891 | $16.29 |
| 33 | Idaho | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $33,308 | $16.01 |
| 35 | Maryland | $35,889 | $17.25 |
| 36 | Iowa | $31,559 | $15.17 |
| 37 | Delaware | $33,311 | $16.01 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $33,057 | $15.89 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $30,828 | $14.82 |
| 40 | Michigan | $31,548 | $15.17 |
| 41 | Illinois | $31,795 | $15.29 |
| 42 | Indiana | $29,985 | $14.42 |
| 43 | Georgia | $29,135 | $14.01 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $32,163 | $15.46 |
| 45 | Kansas | $30,984 | $14.90 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $28,894 | $13.89 |
| 47 | Alabama | $28,836 | $13.86 |
| 48 | Texas | $30,616 | $14.72 |
| 49 | District of Columbia | $31,655 | $15.22 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $28,940 | $13.91 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $24,941 | $11.99 |
Highest paying cities for optical technicians
The highest-paying cities for optical technicians are Hayward, CA, New York, NY, and Phoenix, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hayward, CA | $43,056 | $20.70 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $40,750 | $19.59 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,954 | $19.21 |
| 4 | Lexington, MA | $38,558 | $18.54 |
| 5 | Elizabeth, NJ | $37,625 | $18.09 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $36,424 | $17.51 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $36,197 | $17.40 |
| 8 | Bloomington, MN | $35,664 | $17.15 |
| 9 | Bradenton, FL | $35,479 | $17.06 |
| 10 | Westerville, OH | $34,851 | $16.76 |
| 11 | Charlotte, NC | $33,798 | $16.25 |
| 12 | Conroe, TX | $30,472 | $14.65 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $29,086 | $13.98 |
| 14 | Tulsa, OK | $24,744 | $11.90 |
Optical technician salary details
An optical technician's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $54,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an optical technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $36,908 | $3,076 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying optical technician jobs
The highest paying types of optical technicians are ophthalmic dispenser, contact lens fitter, and licensed dispensing optician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optician Apprentice | $37,698 | $3,141 | $18.12 | 10,174 |
| Licensed Optician | $45,625 | $3,802 | $21.93 | 14,216 |
| Optical Manager | $39,584 | $3,299 | $19.03 | 6,274 |
| Optician | $38,412 | $3,201 | $18.47 | 4,717 |
| Technician | $38,045 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 596,842 |
| Optometric Technician | $30,928 | $2,577 | $14.87 | 33,412 |
Top companies hiring optical technicians now:
Which companies pay optical technicians the most?
Optical technician salaries at AMETEK and United Health Centers Of The San Joaquin Valley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average optical technician salary at companies like Fidelity Holding and Ball are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMETEK | $67,206 | $32.31 |
| 2 | United Health Centers Of The San Joaquin Valley | $62,434 | $30.02 |
| 3 | Fidelity Holding | $60,307 | $28.99 |
| 4 | Ball | $58,541 | $28.14 |
| 5 | Mount Holyoke College | $56,968 | $27.39 |
| 6 | Corning Incorporated | $56,102 | $26.97 |
| 7 | IDEX | $55,807 | $26.83 |
| 8 | Coherent | $53,325 | $25.64 |
| 9 | FLIR Systems | $52,675 | $25.32 |
| 10 | Northrop Grumman | $52,146 | $25.07 |
| 11 | Lockheed Martin | $51,497 | $24.76 |
| 12 | IPG Photonics | $50,734 | $24.39 |
| 13 | Luna | $48,176 | $23.16 |
| 14 | Zayo Group | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| 15 | General Dynamics | $47,769 | $22.97 |
| 16 | Dolby Laboratories | $46,997 | $22.59 |
| 17 | ASML Holding | $45,383 | $21.82 |
| 18 | Revision | $44,019 | $21.16 |
| 19 | CTG | $43,029 | $20.69 |
| 20 | Novelis | $42,393 | $20.38 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Optical Technician salary by industry
The average optical technician salary varies across industries:
- The average optical technician salary in the technology industry is $47,206, the highest of any industry.
- The average optical technician salary in the finance industry is $38,779.
- Optical technicians in the retail industry earn an average salary of $32,579, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for optical technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $47,206 | $22.70 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $38,779 | $18.64 |
| 3 | Health Care | $36,168 | $17.39 |
| 4 | Retail | $32,579 | $15.66 |
High paying optical technician jobs
Optical technician salary trends
The average optical technician salary has risen by $5,202 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average optical technician earned $31,706 annually, but today, they earn $36,908 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for optical technicians over the last decade.
Compare optical technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average optical technician salary over time
Compare optical technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Optical technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,900 | $17.74 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $36,200 | $17.43 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $35,500 | $17.04 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $34,700 | $16.69 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $34,000 | $16.36 | +1.9% |
Recently added optical technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Vision | Optical Technician/Optician | Tucson, AZ | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Discover Vision | Optical Technician/Optician | Alton, IL | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| Discover Vision | Optical Technician/Optician | Florissant, MO | 06/26/2025 | $31,305 |
| Eye Care Partners | Optical Technician/Optician | Florissant, MO | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Manpowergroup | Laser & Optics Tech | Irvine, CA | 06/21/2025 | $48,001 |
| Boardwalk Staffing | Optical Technician-Westinghouse Blvd | Charlotte, NC | 06/20/2025 | $37,566 |
| Clarkson Eyecare | Optical Technician/Optician | Alton, IL | 06/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Eye Care Partners | Optical Technician/Optician | Alton, IL | 06/18/2025 | $33,392 |
| Nevada National Security Sites | Electro-Optical Technician II | Nevada | 06/12/2025 | $52,864 |
| United Health Centers of The San Joaquin Valley | Optical Technician | Fresno, CA | 06/10/2025 | $43,827 |
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