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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Optician in South Dakota is $62,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.
However, a Certified Optician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Certified Optician Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $66,300 | $5,525 | $1,275 | $32 |
| Average | $62,500 | $5,208 | $1,202 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,200 | $4,600 | $1,062 | $27 |
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A Certified Optician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Optician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Certified Optician | $60,108 |
| Intermediate Level Certified Optician | $60,328 |
| Senior Level Certified Optician | $62,804 |
| Specialist Level Certified Optician | $64,361 |
| Expert Level Certified Optician | $64,472 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Certified Opticians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Certified Optician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $67,023. While startup companies pay approximate $56,927.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $56,927 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $60,144 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $64,783 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $67,023 |
For Certified Optician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Certified Optician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Optician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail & Wholesale | $75,000 | $36.0 | 20% |
| Healthcare | $65,625 | $32.0 | 5% |
Understanding how a Certified Optician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $66,300 | $5,525 | $1,275 | $32 |
| Average | $62,500 | $5,208 | $1,202 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,200 | $4,600 | $1,062 | $27 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Certified Optician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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Description. About the role. See yourself starting a new career journey. As a MyEyeDr. Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO) you will analyze prescriptions to... more
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Description. About the role. See yourself starting a new career journey. As a MyEyeDr. Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO) you will analyze prescriptions to... more
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Description. About the role. See yourself starting a new career journey. As a MyEyeDr. Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO) you will analyze prescriptions to... more
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