Optician earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level optician earnings begin at:

$34.96 per hour

$72,710 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level optician earnings begin at:

$30.34 per hour

$63,110 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level optician earnings begin at:

$27.62 per hour

$57,450 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level optician earnings begin at:

$24.84 per hour

$51,660 per year

10th percentile

Starting level optician earnings begin at:

$20.50 per hour

$42,650 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Optician salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Jersey $57,450
Massachusetts $57,400
New York $54,730
Connecticut $53,880
Rhode Island $50,650
District of Columbia $46,650
Virginia $46,330
Vermont $46,140
Alaska $45,360
Hawaii $45,040
Washington $43,070
New Hampshire $41,040
Kentucky $40,340
Ohio $39,860
North Carolina $39,680
Maryland $39,400
California $39,310
Oregon $38,660
Florida $38,420
Colorado $38,270
Maine $38,060
South Carolina $37,910
Minnesota $37,900
Illinois $37,360
Nevada $37,010
Tennessee $36,770
Arkansas $35,890
Delaware $35,320
Michigan $35,190
Texas $34,690
Wisconsin $34,330
Iowa $33,560
Pennsylvania $33,231
Georgia $32,890
Montana $32,500
Nebraska $32,330
North Dakota $32,110
Alabama $30,961
Louisiana $30,930
Missouri $30,890
Kansas $30,800
Idaho $30,780
Oklahoma $30,410
West Virginia $30,360
Arizona $30,263
South Dakota $29,930
New Mexico $29,880
Mississippi $29,870
Wyoming $29,830
Utah $28,910
Indiana $28,183
Puerto Rico $19,600

How much does an Optician earn?

Based on the type of work setting, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the average salary for opticians employed in general merchandise stores earned a yearly salary of about $36,280, while those employed in department stores earned less than $29,660 per annum.

Based on years of work experience according to BLS reports, an average yearly salary for an optician is as follows: an individual with less than one to four years of work experience earns from $17,114 – $44,698/yr; someone with five to nine years earns from $22,408 – $45,429/yr; someone with 10-19 years of experience receives between $28,358 – $62,030/yr; and someone with more than 20 years of work experience earns from $29,491 – $57,704/yr.

How do optician salaries compare to similar careers?

Opticians earn 6% less than similar careers in New Jersey. On average, they make less than occupational therapist assistants but more than neurodiagnostic technologists.

Career Median Salary
Occupational therapist assistant salary $70K
Physical therapist assistant salary $69K
Radiologic technologist salary $67K
Healthcare social worker salary $63K
Health educator salary $58K
Optician salary $57K
Licensed practical nurse salary $57K
Medical records technician salary $50K
Surgical technologist salary $53K
Neurodiagnostic technologist salary $51K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)