318 metro areas

Optician, Dispensing Salary by City (2026)

Opticians earn the most in Bridgeport, CT, an average of $74,400 a year, against $51,770 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Watertown, NY ($74,320 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $51,770BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $74,400Bridgeport, CT
Best after cost of living: $74,320Watertown, NY
Metro areas: 318With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for opticians

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Bridgeport, CT$74,400
Norwich, CT$72,050
Waterbury, CT$70,530
Santa Rosa, CA$70,410
Syracuse, NY$70,300
Vallejo, CA$69,700
New Haven, CT$68,040
New York, NY-NJ$67,930
Worcester, MA$67,850
Urban Honolulu, HI$67,750

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for opticians
Item	Value
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$74,400
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$72,050
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$70,530
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$70,410
Syracuse, NY	$70,300
Vallejo, CA	$69,700
New Haven, CT	$68,040
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$67,930
Worcester, MA	$67,850
Urban Honolulu, HI	$67,750

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Watertown, NY$65,170 nominal$74,320
Syracuse, NY$70,300 nominal$73,430
Norwich, CT$72,050 nominal$71,730
Waterbury, CT$70,530 nominal$70,690
Springfield, MA$67,720 nominal$70,500
Bridgeport, CT$74,400 nominal$69,620
Barnstable Town, MA$67,620 nominal$68,750
Utica, NY$63,190 nominal$68,180
Atlantic City, NJ$66,440 nominal$67,210
Buffalo, NY$64,330 nominal$67,120

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for opticians
Item	Value
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	$74,320
Syracuse, NY	$73,430
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	$71,730
Waterbury-Shelton, CT	$70,690
Springfield, MA	$70,500
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$69,620
Barnstable Town, MA	$68,750
Utica-Rome, NY	$68,180
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$67,210
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$67,120

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Optician, Dispensing salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Optician, Dispensing pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	Bridgeport, CT	$74,400	$56,240	$83,370	$69,620
2	Norwich, CT	$72,050	$53,330	$81,240	$71,730
3	Waterbury, CT	$70,530	$53,230	$79,060	$70,690
4	Santa Rosa, CA	$70,410	$50,650	$80,160	$65,330
5	Syracuse, NY	$70,300	$53,600	$78,540	$73,430
6	Vallejo, CA	$69,700	$48,880	$79,960	$64,250
7	New Haven, CT	$68,040	$51,810	$76,040	$65,070
8	New York, NY-NJ	$67,930	$47,490	$78,020	$60,350
9	Worcester, MA	$67,850	$51,040	$76,130	$66,180
10	Urban Honolulu, HI	$67,750	$49,030	$76,960	$61,060
11	Springfield, MA	$67,720	$48,800	$77,040	$70,500
12	Barnstable Town, MA	$67,620	$50,730	$75,940	$68,750
13	Burlington, VT	$67,390	$43,760	$79,040	$66,760
14	Boston, MA-NH	$66,930	$49,710	$75,420	$61,820
15	Trenton, NJ	$66,770	$50,880	$74,590	$64,710
16	Atlantic City, NJ	$66,440	$52,730	$73,170	$67,210
17	Hartford, CT	$66,330	$47,960	$75,380	$64,560
18	San Jose, CA	$66,100	$50,500	$73,780	$59,860
19	Kiryas Joel, NY	$65,600	$53,370	$71,610	$59,950
20	Albany, NY	$65,270	$48,480	$73,530	$65,550
21	San Francisco, CA	$65,270	$45,360	$75,070	$56,460
22	Watertown, NY	$65,170	$51,770	$71,760	$74,320
23	Buffalo, NY	$64,330	$47,280	$72,740	$67,120
24	Amherst Town, MA	$64,270	$48,190	$72,200	$64,110
25	Sacramento, CA	$63,210	$45,260	$72,030	$59,260
26	Utica, NY	$63,190	$51,330	$69,010	$68,180
27	Naples, FL	$63,110	$46,130	$71,470	$61,150
28	Napa, CA	$63,090	$48,030	$70,490	$56,050
29	Bend, OR	$62,980	$44,620	$72,010	$60,790
30	Kingston, NY	$62,960	$48,820	$69,910	$62,520
31	Rochester, NY	$62,380	$47,400	$69,740	$64,290
32	San Diego, CA	$62,190	$45,760	$70,300	$55,580
33	Glens Falls, NY	$62,000	$46,050	$69,870	$65,360
34	Stockton, CA	$61,670	$45,700	$69,530	$58,680
35	Binghamton, NY	$60,690	$48,440	$66,730	$65,350
36	Santa Maria, CA	$60,530	$44,240	$68,560	$55,640
37	Wenatchee, WA	$60,530	$45,180	$68,080	$58,280
38	Modesto, CA	$60,400	$40,600	$70,160	$58,020
39	Durham, NC	$60,240	$39,830	$70,300	$61,740
40	Chico, CA	$60,110	$44,510	$67,810	$59,400
41	Olympia, WA	$59,970	$43,040	$68,310	$57,850
42	Palm Bay, FL	$59,860	$44,200	$67,600	$59,860
43	Harrisonburg, VA	$59,740	$43,620	$67,660	$62,960
44	Los Angeles, CA	$59,720	$43,490	$67,720	$52,590
45	Fayetteville, NC	$58,910	$37,940	$69,220	$64,050
46	Riverside, CA	$58,860	$43,040	$66,660	$55,300
47	Greensboro, NC	$58,760	$38,210	$68,870	$63,270
48	Santa Cruz, CA	$58,660	$46,010	$64,880	$53,380
49	Oxnard, CA	$58,640	$44,660	$65,520	$53,050
50	Port St. Lucie, FL	$58,510	$43,450	$65,940	$58,380
51	Winchester, VA-WV	$58,490	$44,350	$65,480	$60,640
52	Fresno, CA	$58,450	$43,100	$66,020	$57,220
53	Charlotte, NC-SC	$58,320	$39,790	$67,430	$59,910
54	Anchorage, AK	$58,300	$39,480	$67,580	$55,300
55	San Luis Obispo, CA	$58,180	$45,240	$64,540	$53,570
56	Sebastian, FL	$58,030	$42,470	$65,690	$59,030
57	Visalia, CA	$57,700	$44,280	$64,290	$57,800
58	Cape Coral, FL	$57,660	$41,180	$65,770	$56,340
59	Miami, FL	$57,570	$39,750	$66,370	$50,430
60	Las Vegas, NV	$57,550	$41,720	$65,330	$57,430
61	North Port, FL	$57,410	$41,450	$65,270	$56,060
62	Gainesville, FL	$57,320	$42,720	$64,520	$59,260
63	Salinas, CA	$57,180	$42,680	$64,330	$52,440
64	Ocala, FL	$57,160	$41,390	$64,940	$60,020
65	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$57,120	$39,640	$65,730	$52,460
66	Crestview, FL	$57,100	$40,120	$65,480	$58,850
67	Winston, NC	$56,780	$37,440	$66,310	$61,690
68	Burlington, NC	$56,680	$37,900	$65,940	$60,820
69	Punta Gorda, FL	$56,680	$41,230	$64,290	$56,380
70	Charlottesville, VA	$56,510	$41,080	$64,110	$57,000
71	Reno, NV	$56,450	$39,600	$64,750	$55,880
72	Jacksonville, FL	$56,370	$40,870	$64,000	$56,660
73	Atlanta, GA	$56,350	$41,520	$63,650	$56,320
74	Orlando, FL	$56,310	$40,230	$64,210	$55,520
75	Jacksonville, NC	$56,140	$37,480	$65,330	$60,970
76	Providence, RI-MA	$55,990	$42,580	$62,610	$55,010
77	Seattle, WA	$55,990	$45,260	$61,300	$50,380
78	Tallahassee, FL	$55,990	$38,130	$64,790	$59,620
79	Tampa, FL	$55,930	$40,370	$63,590	$55,440
80	Portland, OR-WA	$55,760	$44,950	$61,090	$52,890
81	Wildwood, FL	$55,560	$39,870	$63,270	$65,040
82	Bakersfield, CA	$55,370	$43,280	$61,320	$54,880
83	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$55,350	$39,100	$63,360	$56,310
84	Manchester, NH	$55,180	$46,130	$59,630	$52,230
85	Deltona, FL	$55,100	$39,690	$62,690	$55,450
86	Nashville, TN	$54,970	$39,190	$62,750	$57,060
87	Raleigh, NC	$54,950	$38,310	$63,150	$55,980
88	Spartanburg, SC	$54,910	$39,330	$62,590	$60,310
89	Asheville, NC	$54,850	$36,730	$63,770	$56,840
90	Denver, CO	$54,450	$43,200	$60,010	$51,470
91	Lakeland, FL	$54,180	$37,920	$62,210	$55,770
92	Richmond, VA	$53,960	$39,040	$61,320	$55,140
93	Bremerton, WA	$53,850	$41,040	$60,170	$50,990
94	Phoenix, AZ	$53,830	$42,790	$59,280	$52,100
95	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$53,680	$39,670	$60,610	$54,810
96	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$53,620	$39,710	$60,490	$52,280
97	Bozeman, MT	$53,370	$41,540	$59,200	$52,060
98	Salem, OR	$53,370	$41,890	$59,030	$51,490
99	Mount Vernon, WA	$53,100	$44,160	$57,510	$51,830
100	Boulder, CO	$53,020	$43,780	$57,570	$50,400
101	Panama City, FL	$52,920	$36,860	$60,820	$54,390
102	Roanoke, VA	$52,890	$39,770	$59,360	$56,500
103	Tucson, AZ	$52,810	$40,060	$59,110	$54,500
104	Prescott Valley, AZ	$52,580	$42,180	$57,700	$53,510
105	Charleston, SC	$52,520	$39,000	$59,180	$52,020
106	Albany, OR	$52,370	$40,000	$58,490	$51,290
107	Yuma, AZ	$52,370	$38,520	$59,200	$56,490
108	Bellingham, WA	$52,250	$43,260	$56,700	$50,560
109	Cleveland, OH	$52,250	$38,250	$59,160	$55,630
110	Johnson City, TN	$52,250	$36,170	$60,170	$59,420
111	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$52,170	$38,750	$58,760	$54,700
112	Wilmington, NC	$52,150	$35,710	$60,240	$54,090
113	Toledo, OH	$52,120	$37,360	$59,400	$56,990
114	Lynchburg, VA	$51,940	$38,060	$58,780	$58,120
115	Knoxville, TN	$51,920	$36,730	$59,400	$56,090
116	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$51,810	$40,810	$57,240	$49,430
117	Dayton, OH	$51,730	$37,380	$58,800	$55,810
118	Myrtle Beach, SC	$51,630	$35,670	$59,490	$55,140
119	Pensacola, FL	$51,560	$36,400	$59,030	$52,760
120	Eugene, OR	$51,540	$40,680	$56,890	$50,740
121	Rochester, MN	$51,360	$36,520	$58,660	$56,550
122	Greenville, SC	$51,330	$36,280	$58,760	$55,040
123	Portland, ME	$51,330	$43,580	$55,140	$50,390
124	Columbus, OH	$51,230	$37,610	$57,930	$53,660
125	Morristown, TN	$51,230	$36,730	$58,340	$59,320
126	Savannah, GA	$51,210	$37,420	$58,010	$53,790
127	Spokane, WA	$51,040	$39,710	$56,640	$50,860
128	Kennewick, WA	$50,840	$40,350	$55,970	$50,800
129	Boise City, ID	$50,750	$35,820	$58,090	$51,580
130	Yakima, WA	$50,710	$40,190	$55,870	$53,070
131	Allentown, PA-NJ	$50,670	$39,150	$56,350	$50,690
132	Hickory, NC	$50,650	$35,150	$58,280	$57,240
133	Lexington, KY	$50,540	$36,980	$57,220	$54,410
134	Athens, GA	$50,500	$35,400	$57,930	$54,100
135	Baltimore, MD	$50,320	$39,230	$55,760	$48,160
136	Clarksville, TN-KY	$50,290	$33,840	$58,410	$55,300
137	Redding, CA	$50,150	$41,350	$54,500	$49,810
138	Gainesville, GA	$50,040	$35,920	$57,010	$51,710
139	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$49,920	$36,170	$56,700	$54,580
140	Lake Havasu City, AZ	$49,880	$37,610	$55,930	$53,010
141	Fort Collins, CO	$49,820	$40,930	$54,200	$49,260
142	Iowa City, IA	$49,800	$39,040	$55,100	$54,420
143	Missoula, MT	$49,750	$36,440	$56,310	$51,580
144	Youngstown, OH	$49,710	$37,360	$55,810	$56,880
145	Akron, OH	$49,610	$36,420	$56,100	$53,130
146	Hot Springs, AR	$49,570	$34,840	$56,850	$57,820
147	Augusta, GA-SC	$49,520	$35,690	$56,330	$53,880
148	Salt Lake City, UT	$49,380	$37,040	$55,450	$48,960
149	Little Rock, AR	$49,320	$34,090	$56,830	$55,190
150	Medford, OR	$49,320	$40,370	$53,730	$48,620
151	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$49,320	$34,570	$56,580	$53,500
152	Canton, OH	$49,250	$35,190	$56,180	$55,090
153	Hilton Head Island, SC	$49,090	$35,480	$55,790	$50,080
154	Fayetteville, AR	$48,960	$34,400	$56,120	$53,590
155	Billings, MT	$48,940	$38,420	$54,140	$52,330
156	Columbia, SC	$48,710	$34,990	$55,470	$52,010
157	St. George, UT	$48,590	$36,070	$54,770	$49,930
158	Madison, WI	$48,480	$39,330	$53,000	$49,830
159	Mansfield, OH	$48,360	$37,560	$53,660	$54,420
160	Greeley, CO	$48,340	$40,080	$52,400	$48,260
161	Florence, SC	$48,280	$34,740	$54,930	$55,640
162	Provo, UT	$48,280	$34,240	$55,200	$49,150
163	Macon, GA	$48,190	$35,840	$54,270	$54,430
164	Lancaster, PA	$48,170	$38,480	$52,960	$49,020
165	Jackson, TN	$48,150	$33,490	$55,370	$56,300
166	Milwaukee, WI	$47,740	$37,420	$52,830	$49,250
167	St. Cloud, MN	$47,690	$36,500	$53,210	$54,420
168	Ann Arbor, MI	$47,550	$37,380	$52,540	$47,140
169	Valdosta, GA	$47,440	$33,970	$54,080	$53,740
170	Kenosha, WI	$47,400	$36,710	$52,690	$46,880
171	Elizabethtown, KY	$47,320	$34,490	$53,640	$52,250
172	Chicago, IL-IN	$47,170	$38,190	$51,600	$45,530
173	Kansas City, MO-KS	$47,110	$36,630	$52,270	$50,910
174	Bismarck, ND	$46,970	$38,040	$51,360	$51,600
175	Harrisburg, PA	$46,920	$36,690	$51,960	$47,560
176	Colorado Springs, CO	$46,820	$38,580	$50,880	$46,490
177	Eau Claire, WI	$46,780	$37,190	$51,500	$50,410
178	York, PA	$46,680	$37,250	$51,310	$48,630
179	Des Moines, IA	$46,550	$38,290	$50,610	$50,760
180	Jefferson City, MO	$46,550	$33,900	$52,790	$52,910
181	Appleton, WI	$46,380	$36,630	$51,190	$50,180
182	Sheboygan, WI	$46,360	$37,360	$50,810	$49,310
183	Idaho Falls, ID	$46,340	$32,760	$53,040	$49,080
184	Austin, TX	$46,300	$35,570	$51,580	$47,210
185	Fargo, ND-MN	$46,240	$37,130	$50,730	$50,890
186	Green Bay, WI	$46,200	$37,670	$50,400	$49,630
187	Warner Robins, GA	$46,200	$35,550	$51,440	$49,260
188	Dubuque, IA	$46,130	$38,540	$49,860	$52,820
189	Duluth, MN-WI	$46,130	$36,360	$50,940	$51,970
190	Ogden, UT	$46,010	$36,210	$50,840	$45,850
191	Santa Fe, NM	$45,840	$36,880	$50,270	$46,410
192	Oshkosh, WI	$45,820	$37,940	$49,710	$49,310
193	Bangor, ME	$45,780	$37,650	$49,800	$47,440
194	Pittsburgh, PA	$45,720	$36,170	$50,420	$48,290
195	La Crosse, WI-MN	$45,660	$37,500	$49,690	$49,760
196	Salisbury, MD	$45,660	$38,830	$49,030	$47,750
197	Columbus, GA-AL	$45,640	$34,030	$51,360	$51,110
198	Dallas, TX	$45,590	$34,070	$51,290	$44,220
199	Albuquerque, NM	$45,470	$33,610	$51,290	$47,590
200	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$45,450	$33,720	$51,230	$52,920
201	Wausau, WI	$45,390	$36,670	$49,690	$48,990
202	St. Louis, MO-IL	$44,950	$36,230	$49,230	$47,270
203	Omaha, NE-IA	$44,930	$37,480	$48,590	$48,880
204	Great Falls, MT	$44,890	$37,320	$48,630	$46,350
205	Kingsport, TN-VA	$44,870	$33,680	$50,380	$51,900
206	State College, PA	$44,820	$35,800	$49,250	$46,320
207	Springfield, MO	$44,800	$34,760	$49,750	$50,570
208	Scranton, PA	$44,760	$37,040	$48,570	$47,840
209	Traverse City, MI	$44,700	$35,900	$49,030	$47,870
210	Grand Rapids, MI	$44,680	$35,840	$49,030	$46,760
211	Springfield, IL	$44,680	$38,650	$47,650	$48,180
212	Paducah, KY-IL	$44,660	$33,530	$50,130	$51,880
213	Detroit, MI	$44,390	$36,550	$48,240	$44,260
214	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$44,370	$33,180	$49,880	$47,670
215	Rockford, IL	$44,370	$36,630	$48,190	$48,150
216	Davenport, IA-IL	$44,350	$36,380	$48,260	$49,790
217	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$44,350	$35,440	$48,730	$47,100
218	Grand Forks, ND-MN	$44,300	$37,540	$47,650	$51,120
219	Cedar Rapids, IA	$43,990	$37,540	$47,170	$49,450
220	Champaign, IL	$43,970	$35,800	$48,010	$47,430
221	Waterloo, IA	$43,930	$37,210	$47,240	$50,460
222	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$43,890	$35,320	$48,090	$48,430
223	Grand Junction, CO	$43,640	$37,460	$46,700	$45,710
224	Reading, PA	$43,620	$33,970	$48,360	$44,940
225	Huntsville, AL	$43,560	$35,400	$47,590	$46,800
226	Lansing, MI	$43,490	$35,980	$47,200	$45,780
227	Albany, GA	$43,470	$32,320	$48,940	$49,580
228	Racine, WI	$43,370	$36,400	$46,800	$45,200
229	Ames, IA	$43,350	$36,500	$46,720	$48,800
230	Amarillo, TX	$43,330	$34,760	$47,530	$47,190
231	Kalamazoo, MI	$43,310	$33,900	$47,940	$45,670
232	Fort Wayne, IN	$43,280	$34,990	$47,380	$46,750
233	Lebanon, PA	$43,260	$35,320	$47,150	$46,410
234	Pueblo, CO	$43,010	$36,170	$46,380	$46,870
235	Lincoln, NE	$42,970	$36,920	$45,930	$46,920
236	Wheeling, WV-OH	$42,950	$33,610	$47,570	$48,630
237	Peoria, IL	$42,930	$36,630	$46,030	$47,060
238	Janesville, WI	$42,790	$36,340	$45,950	$45,670
239	Logan, UT-ID	$42,620	$33,800	$46,970	$44,430
240	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$42,490	$31,950	$47,690	$48,050
241	Indianapolis, IN	$42,330	$34,400	$46,240	$44,230
242	Midland, TX	$42,270	$34,630	$46,030	$44,130
243	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$42,200	$35,210	$45,660	$48,810
244	Bloomington, IL	$42,100	$35,960	$45,120	$45,010
245	Erie, PA	$41,890	$34,840	$45,360	$46,060
246	Odessa, TX	$41,870	$32,260	$46,610	$44,590
247	Charleston, WV	$41,830	$34,130	$45,610	$47,150
248	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$41,830	$32,740	$46,300	$48,420
249	Wichita, KS	$41,770	$36,230	$44,510	$46,960
250	Oklahoma City, OK	$41,750	$31,450	$46,820	$46,180
251	Grand Island, NE	$41,720	$35,860	$44,600	$48,140
252	Bowling Green, KY	$41,680	$32,930	$45,990	$46,220
253	Tulsa, OK	$41,680	$31,660	$46,630	$46,720
254	Elkhart, IN	$41,540	$35,340	$44,570	$45,990
255	Houston, TX	$41,540	$31,120	$46,680	$42,120
256	South Bend, IN-MI	$41,430	$33,550	$45,320	$44,620
257	Topeka, KS	$41,310	$36,480	$43,700	$46,510
258	San Antonio, TX	$41,230	$33,200	$45,180	$43,530
259	Texarkana, TX-AR	$41,180	$32,160	$45,640	$49,020
260	Flint, MI	$41,140	$34,010	$44,640	$44,220
261	Niles, MI	$41,120	$35,150	$44,050	$44,520
262	Bloomington, IN	$41,020	$34,880	$44,030	$43,140
263	Killeen, TX	$40,810	$33,090	$44,620	$44,780
264	Rapid City, SD	$40,710	$34,010	$44,010	$45,660
265	College Station, TX	$40,600	$33,510	$44,100	$44,640
266	Slidell, LA	$40,600	$31,390	$45,160	$43,780
267	Lafayette, IN	$40,370	$35,340	$42,850	$43,210
268	Birmingham, AL	$40,310	$34,110	$43,370	$43,990
269	Daphne, AL	$40,310	$34,030	$43,410	$42,570
270	Johnstown, PA	$40,310	$34,110	$43,370	$46,910
271	Muskegon, MI	$40,060	$33,360	$43,370	$43,300
272	Kokomo, IN	$40,040	$35,630	$42,200	$44,660
273	Parkersburg, WV	$39,750	$31,780	$43,680	$45,660
274	Muncie, IN	$39,690	$32,450	$43,240	$45,030
275	Joplin, MO-KS	$39,640	$32,090	$43,350	$46,240
276	Michigan City, IN	$39,600	$31,680	$43,490	$43,190
277	Columbia, MO	$39,560	$33,510	$42,560	$44,230
278	Saginaw, MI	$39,540	$32,070	$43,240	$43,500
279	Terre Haute, IN	$39,480	$32,570	$42,870	$44,970
280	Evansville, IN	$39,400	$33,200	$42,450	$43,050
281	New Orleans, LA	$39,400	$31,760	$43,160	$42,550
282	Abilene, TX	$39,330	$30,950	$43,450	$43,520
283	Morgantown, WV	$39,310	$31,120	$43,350	$42,120
284	Longview, TX	$39,250	$32,490	$42,600	$43,860
285	Gulfport, MS	$39,190	$30,450	$43,470	$43,540
286	El Paso, TX	$38,770	$31,490	$42,350	$43,120
287	Lubbock, TX	$38,710	$28,540	$43,720	$42,390
288	Corpus Christi, TX	$38,690	$28,000	$43,950	$41,750
289	Baton Rouge, LA	$38,540	$31,080	$42,220	$42,450
290	Lafayette, LA	$38,360	$28,700	$43,100	$43,990
291	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$38,270	$32,070	$41,330	$44,460
292	Jonesboro, AR	$38,270	$31,370	$41,660	$44,560
293	Wichita Falls, TX	$38,250	$30,850	$41,890	$42,730
294	Jackson, MS	$38,230	$28,370	$43,080	$42,930
295	Beaumont, TX	$38,150	$30,410	$41,970	$42,370
296	Montgomery, AL	$38,060	$32,010	$41,040	$42,440
297	Brownsville, TX	$37,900	$28,770	$42,410	$44,080
298	Hattiesburg, MS	$37,790	$28,000	$42,620	$43,120
299	Mobile, AL	$37,690	$31,430	$40,790	$42,780
300	Tuscaloosa, AL	$37,610	$32,180	$40,290	$42,870
301	Lake Charles, LA	$37,150	$30,720	$40,310	$43,270
302	Tyler, TX	$37,040	$29,600	$40,680	$40,190
303	Laredo, TX	$36,980	$27,040	$41,890	$42,530
304	San Angelo, TX	$36,900	$31,410	$39,580	$39,910
305	Houma, LA	$36,730	$30,240	$39,920	$43,160
306	Shreveport, LA	$36,630	$29,740	$40,000	$43,210
307	McAllen, TX	$36,250	$28,270	$40,210	$42,200
308	Monroe, LA	$35,280	$27,440	$39,150	$42,200
309	Waco, TX	$35,150	$30,740	$37,340	$37,980
310	Dothan, AL	$34,440	$29,060	$37,110	$41,080
311	Victoria, TX	$34,280	$28,080	$37,320	$38,160
312	Alexandria, LA	$33,820	$27,250	$37,070	$39,470
313	Guayama, PR	$31,840	$22,920	$36,230	N/A
314	San Juan, PR	$31,140	$23,030	$35,150	N/A
315	Ponce, PR	$30,700	$23,190	$34,400	N/A
316	Mayaguez, PR	$30,120	$23,550	$33,360	N/A
317	Arecibo, PR	$29,810	$22,730	$33,280	N/A
318	Aguadilla, PR	$29,540	$24,290	$32,120	N/A

More on opticians

Optician, Dispensing career profile Optician, Dispensing salary by state Cost of living calculator

Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Optician, Dispensing salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays opticians the most?

Bridgeport, CT, where the average (mean) wage is $74,400 a year, followed by Norwich, CT ($72,050), Waterbury, CT ($70,530), Santa Rosa, CA ($70,410). The national mean is $51,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do opticians earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Watertown, NY ($74,320 at national prices, $65,170 nominal), Syracuse, NY ($73,430 at national prices, $70,300 nominal), Norwich, CT ($71,730 at national prices, $72,050 nominal).

How much do opticians make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $67,930; Los Angeles, CA: $59,720; Chicago, IL-IN: $47,170; Dallas, TX: $45,590; Houston, TX: $41,540 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do opticians earn the least?

Of the 318 metro areas with their own estimate, Aguadilla, PR has the lowest mean wage, $29,540.