Salary AI Book a Demo

Optician Salary in the United States

How much does an Optician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optician in the United States is $68,753 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, an Optician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,672
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,687 to $72,898
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,343
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Optician Salaries

An 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Optician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,104
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,345
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,062
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,795
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,918
Levels Salary
Entry Level Optician$66,104
Intermediate Level Optician$66,345
Senior Level Optician$69,062
Specialist Level Optician$70,795
Expert Level Optician$70,918
View as Graph

How Do Opticians Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Opticians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,123.
  • California: $75,835.
  • Massachusetts: $74,824.

Top Paying Cities for Optician

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:

  • San Jose: $86,718
  • San Francisco: $85,769
  • Oakland: $83,961

What Skills Can Increase an Optician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.11% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
  • Medical Billing (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): Medical billing is a payment practice within the United States health system. The process involves a healthcare provider submitting, following up on, and appealing claims with health insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered; such as testing, treatments, and procedures. The same process is used for most insurance companies, whether they are private companies or government sponsored programs: Medical coding reports what the diagnosis and treatment were, and prices are applied accordingly. Medical billers are encouraged, but not required by law, to become certified by taking an exam such as the CMRS Exam, RHIA Exam, CPB Exam and others. Certification schools are intended to provide a theoretical grounding for students entering the medical billing field. Some community colleges in the United States offer certificates, or even associate degrees, in the field. Those seeking advancement may be cross-trained in medical coding or transcription or auditing, and may earn a bachelor's or graduate degree in medical information science and technology.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.11%
Work Ethic 2.26%
Medical Billing 1.45%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Optician's salary.

  • Word Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Spreadsheet Software: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Word Processing $81,129
18%
Spreadsheet Software $73,566
7%
Problem Solving $73,566
7%
Get Latest Data

Optician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Optician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $73,729. While startup companies pay approximate $62,623.

Optician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $62,623
Growth Stage 51~500 $66,161
Established 501~5000 $71,264
Enterprise 5000+ $73,729

Optician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For 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, Optician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Optician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Optician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$82,504$40.020%
Healthcare$72,191$35.05%

How Education impacts an Optician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optician enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Optician with a Bachelor's Degree is between $51,724 and $55,246.

Optician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 54.1%
Associates 23.9%
Bachelors 19.4%
Masters 1.2%
Doctorate 0.3%
View as Graph

Optician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$60,687
Average $68,753/year
$72,898
$5,057
Average $5,729/month
$6,075
$1,167
Average $1,322/week
$1,402
$29
Average $33/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,898 $6,075 $1,402 $35
Average $68,753 $5,729 $1,322 $33
25th Percentile $60,687 $5,057 $1,167 $29

Most common benefits for Optician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Optician

Here are companies hiring for Optician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Optician Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Optician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Optician

1. Where can an Optician earn the most?

An Optician's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Optician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Optician is $86,718.

2. What is the highest pay for Optician?

The highest pay for Optician is $76,672.

3. What is the lowest pay for Optician?

The lowest pay for Optician is $53,343.

4. What are the responsibilities of Optician?

Measures and fits contact lenses and eyeglass frames based on prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists. Takes precision measurements of eyes using a pupilometer and other devices to ensure proper fit of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Assists and advises customers in selecting frames based on their prescription, lifestyle needs, and style preferences. Inspects lenses for quality, fits and adjusts eyewear, and repairs eyewear as needed. Instructs customer on correct eyeglasses and contact lens care and maintenance. May process work orders and sales. Requires a high school diploma. Requires Applicable License. Requires Licensed Optician. Typically reports to a manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Optician?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Optician roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst