Opticians in the United States tend to earn the highest wages in specific cities, with San Diego, California, leading the way at an average hourly rate of $22.59, based on 66 reported salaries. Following closely is Kansas City, Missouri, where opticians earn approximately $22.39 per hour, supported by 24 salary reports. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, also offers competitive pay, with opticians making around $22.07 per hour from 17 reported salaries. Other notable cities include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the average hourly wage is $20.80, and Fort Collins, Colorado, with an average of $20.47 per hour. These figures indicate that geographical location plays a significant role in determining the earning potential for opticians, with urban areas often providing higher salaries due to increased demand for optical services and a higher cost of living.