Reading the Optician Wage Distribution
For opticians, the wage distribution gives a reference for where earnings fall across workers in the occupation. Half of workers earn between $38,820 and $61,700. That interval describes the middle portion of the distribution, so it offers a useful central benchmark for interpreting optician pay.
The endpoints mark positions within the overall spread of optician wages, not a guaranteed starting point or ceiling for an individual. A worker’s pay may fall below, within, or above this central span. Read the interval as a broad orientation to reported earnings across the occupation, not a personal forecast.
Why Optician Pay Can Vary Across Contexts
Optician pay sits near the national median across occupations, offering a broad reference point for career planning. This comparison describes pay for the occupation as a whole. You can use it to set general expectations when considering optician compensation.
The national position gives useful context, while an individual optician’s pay can differ from the occupational picture. The available comparison does not identify a specific cause for those differences. For practical planning, treat the national figure as a starting reference and seek context specific to the opportunity you are considering.
How Geography Relates to Optician Pay
Pay differs somewhat between states: among available estimates for U.S. states and Washington, D.C., median pay is highest in Connecticut at $75,300 and lowest in Louisiana at $36,360; the highest is about 2.1 times the lowest. For opticians, this makes work location a useful factor in setting broad pay expectations. State medians provide a way to compare pay references across places. They describe pay at the state level, giving you a starting point for understanding geographic differences.
A statewide median can help frame questions about an optician position in a particular location. It offers a broad comparison point for considering the pay attached to a specific job. Individual pay expectations can be considered alongside the state-level reference. This keeps geography in view while leaving room to assess the actual compensation offered for an optician role.
How Much Do Optician Professionals Earn?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,610 | 10th percentile |
| 25th | $38,820 | 25th percentile |
| 50th (Median) | $47,260 | 50th percentile |
| 75th | $61,700 | 75th percentile |
| 90th | $76,750 | 90th percentile |
Where Do Optician Professionals Earn the Most?
| State | Median Salary | vs Career Median |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 | +59.3% |
| Hawaii | $75,300 | +59.3% |
| New Jersey | $72,460 | +53.3% |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 | +42.2% |
| New York | $63,880 | +35.2% |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 | +29.7% |
| Florida | $58,850 | +24.5% |
| Alaska | $58,250 | +23.3% |
| California | $57,990 | +22.7% |
| Vermont | $57,350 | +21.3% |
Which Cities Pay Optician Professionals the Most?
| Metro Area | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,050 | 3,460 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $64,170 | 950 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $61,880 | 1,250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,520 | 1,080 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $58,360 | 940 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,240 | 490 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,130 | 3,070 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $51,890 | 1,380 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $49,750 | 750 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,300 | 1,070 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: October 2026
Salary data available for 52 state-level areas and 15 metropolitan areas.