Apprentice or Licensed Optician Salary in the United States
How much does an Apprentice or Licensed Optician make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Apprentice or Licensed Optician in the United States is $68,740 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an Apprentice or Licensed Optician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,716
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,115 to $72,915
Key Factors That Influence Apprentice or Licensed Optician Salaries
An Apprentice or Licensed 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 Apprentice or Licensed Optician Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Apprentice or Licensed 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): $65,793
Early Career (1-2 years): $66,033
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,740
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,459
Expert (over 8 years): $70,582
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Apprentice or Licensed Optician
$65,793
Intermediate Level Apprentice or Licensed Optician
$66,033
Senior Level Apprentice or Licensed Optician
$68,740
Specialist Level Apprentice or Licensed Optician
$70,459
Expert Level Apprentice or Licensed Optician
$70,582
$65,7930 yr
$66,033< 2 yrs
$68,7402-4 yrs
$70,4595-8 yrs
$70,582> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Apprentice or Licensed Optician 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 Apprentice or Licensed Opticians.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $76,108.
California: $75,820.
Massachusetts: $74,809.
District of Columbia$76,108
California$75,820
Massachusetts$74,809
Washington$74,534
New Jersey$74,507
Alaska$74,411
Connecticut$73,462
New York$73,077
Hawaii$71,847
Rhode Island$71,269
Maryland$70,877
Minnesota$70,341
Colorado$70,135
Illinois$70,066
Oregon$69,805
Delaware$69,613
New Hampshire$69,492
Virginia$69,221
Pennsylvania$68,430
Nevada$68,032
North Dakota$67,901
Michigan$67,695
Wisconsin$67,619
Vermont$67,468
Texas$67,049
Maine$67,021
Arizona$66,980
Ohio$66,932
Georgia$66,299
Indiana$65,983
Wyoming$65,921
Utah$65,825
Iowa$65,784
Kansas$65,454
Louisiana$65,358
North Carolina$65,323
Missouri$65,309
Florida$65,041
Montana$64,897
Nebraska$64,760
Kentucky$64,684
South Carolina$64,409
Tennessee$64,237
Idaho$64,168
New Mexico$63,667
Oklahoma$63,557
Alabama$63,151
South Dakota$62,471
Arkansas$62,099
West Virginia$61,900
Mississippi$61,302
Top Paying Cities for Apprentice or Licensed Opticians
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: $86,701
San Francisco: $85,752
Oakland: $83,945
San Jose, CA$86,701
San Francisco, CA$85,752
Oakland, CA$83,945
New York, NY$79,146
Paramus, NJ$78,184
Queens Village, NY$78,180
Passaic, NJ$78,115
Bergenfield, NJ$78,109
Stamford, CT$77,958
Huntington, NY$77,929
Newark, NJ$77,421
Bridgeport, CT$77,276
Vallejo, CA$77,140
New Brunswick, NJ$77,112
Petaluma, CA$77,071
Middlesex, NJ$76,940
Somerset, NJ$76,892
Santa Cruz, CA$76,803
Boston, MA$76,383
Monterey, CA$76,142
Seattle, WA$75,985
Santa Rosa, CA$75,971
Los Angeles, CA$75,950
Juneau, AK$75,772
Washington, DC$75,696
Orange, CA$75,451
Santa Ana, CA$75,270
Long Beach, CA$75,201
Anaheim, CA$75,187
Anchorage, AK$75,153
Santa Maria, CA$74,947
Everett, WA$74,933
Danbury, CT$74,691
Bremerton, WA$74,596
Tacoma, WA$74,349
New Suffolk, NY$74,347
Sacramento, CA$74,328
Santa Barbara, CA$74,253
Trenton, NJ$74,177
San Diego, CA$74,177
Brockton, MA$74,101
Fairbanks, AK$73,933
Lompoc, CA$73,758
Lowell, MA$73,702
Ventura, CA$73,689
Nashua, NH$73,675
Stockton, CA$73,668
Modesto, CA$73,166
Poughkeepsie, NY$73,015
Olympia, WA$72,885
Kennewick, WA$72,885
New Haven, CT$72,857
Lawrence, MA$72,610
Hartford, CT$72,541
Riverside, CA$72,527
New Bedford, MA$72,458
Richland, WA$72,458
Bakersfield, CA$72,362
San Bernardino, CA$72,335
New Britain, CT$72,328
Atlantic City, NJ$72,328
New London, CT$72,300
Norwich, CT$72,280
Portsmouth, NH$72,266
Boulder, CO$72,120
Portland, OR$72,025
Worcester, MA$72,018
Minneapolis, MN$71,805
Philadelphia, PA$71,709
Honolulu, HI$71,482
Saint Paul, MN$71,449
Vineland, NJ$71,434
Providence, RI$71,235
Chicago, IL$71,036
Bellingham, WA$70,953
Springfield, MA$70,898
Baltimore, MD$70,877
Chico, CA$70,706
Pittsfield, MA$70,520
Manchester, NH$70,389
Spokane, WA$70,087
Denver, CO$70,080
Albany, NY$69,757
Troy, NY$69,729
Nassau, NY$69,656
Schenectady, NY$69,585
Wilmington, DE$69,530
Burlington, VT$69,434
Salem, OR$69,406
Portland, ME$69,193
Yakima, WA$69,125
Rochester, MN$68,911
Reno, NV$68,877
Fresno, CA$68,877
Milwaukee, WI$68,815
Detroit, MI$68,746
Ann Arbor, MI$68,735
Allentown, PA$68,726
Colorado Springs, CO$68,609
Syracuse, NY$68,575
Carson City, NV$68,575
Houston, TX$68,478
Eugene, OR$68,444
Gary, IN$68,362
Springfield, OR$68,307
Bismarck, ND$68,293
Galveston, TX$68,245
Medford, OR$68,142
Fort Collins, CO$68,114
Concord, NH$68,080
Austin, TX$68,059
Mesa, AZ$67,915
Reading, PA$67,908
Phoenix, AZ$67,901
Dallas, TX$67,880
Saint Cloud, MN$67,814
Madison, WI$67,722
Utica, NY$67,537
Rochester, NY$67,427
Des Moines, IA$67,420
Raleigh, NC$67,413
Atlanta, GA$67,310
Battle Creek, MI$67,289
Salt Lake City, UT$67,269
Lancaster, PA$67,165
Harrisburg, PA$67,069
Kansas City, MO$67,000
Champaign, IL$66,987
Kansas City, KS$66,987
Fort Worth, TX$66,980
Columbus, OH$66,968
Boca Raton, FL$66,952
Pittsburgh, PA$66,925
Richmond, VA$66,897
Indianapolis, IN$66,884
Cleveland, OH$66,877
Las Vegas, NV$66,794
Cincinnati, OH$66,794
Petersburg, VA$66,691
Huntsville, AL$66,588
Lansing, MI$66,542
Lebanon, PA$66,533
Pueblo, CO$66,526
Appleton, WI$66,506
Buffalo, NY$66,478
Dayton, OH$66,457
Racine, WI$66,444
Charlotte, NC$66,437
Saint Louis, MO$66,416
York, PA$66,375
Elkhart, IN$66,375
Gastonia, NC$66,362
Billings, MT$66,345
Beaumont, TX$66,327
Lorain, OH$66,313
Benton Harbor, MI$66,299
Toledo, OH$66,286
Binghamton, NY$66,251
Rock Hill, SC$66,244
Rockford, IL$66,210
Springfield, IL$66,182
Elyria, OH$66,176
Fargo, ND$66,176
Flagstaff, AZ$66,127
Fort Lauderdale, FL$66,086
Duluth, MN$66,045
Miami, FL$66,045
Cheyenne, WY$65,997
Grand Forks, ND$65,997
Bangor, ME$65,846
Cedar Rapids, IA$65,770
Durham, NC$65,741
Louisville, KY$65,736
Grand Rapids, MI$65,722
Hialeah, FL$65,715
Casper, WY$65,619
Scranton, PA$65,536
New Orleans, LA$65,516
Virginia Beach, VA$65,509
Akron, OH$65,474
Peoria, IL$65,385
Sarasota, FL$65,371
Nashville, TN$65,323
Omaha, NE$65,323
Green Bay, WI$65,323
Baton Rouge, LA$65,289
Charleston, SC$65,275
Jamestown, NY$65,241
Davenport, IA$65,241
Tucson, AZ$65,206
Saint Petersburg, FL$65,165
Tampa, FL$65,151
Evansville, IN$65,110
Port Arthur, TX$65,110
Bradenton, FL$65,083
Santa Fe, NM$64,959
Orlando, FL$64,835
Clearwater, FL$64,815
Canton, OH$64,670
La Crosse, WI$64,670
Albuquerque, NM$64,629
Newport News, VA$64,622
High Point, NC$64,601
Ogden, UT$64,574
Corpus Christi, TX$64,519
Norfolk, VA$64,478
Laramie, WY$64,478
Rock Island, IL$64,437
Saginaw, MI$64,423
Jacksonville, FL$64,416
Salisbury, NC$64,402
Boise, ID$64,388
Moline, IL$64,354
Fort Myers, FL$64,333
Memphis, TN$64,320
Tulsa, OK$64,285
Waterloo, IA$64,244
Spartanburg, SC$64,175
Lincoln, NE$64,141
Fort Wayne, IN$64,127
Provo, UT$64,120
Cedar Falls, IA$64,038
San Antonio, TX$64,010
Greensboro, NC$63,983
South Bend, IN$63,976
Savannah, GA$63,900
Muskegon, MI$63,873
Birmingham, AL$63,866
Winston Salem, NC$63,832
Lake Charles, LA$63,667
Anderson, IN$63,653
Lexington, KY$63,632
Augusta, GA$63,612
Greenville, SC$63,612
Lima, OH$63,557
Wichita, KS$63,550
Tuscaloosa, AL$63,550
Columbia, SC$63,488
Springfield, OH$63,474
Asheville, NC$63,364
Bloomington, IN$63,316
Knoxville, TN$63,069
Shreveport, LA$63,062
Wilmington, NC$62,972
Roanoke, VA$62,972
Topeka, KS$62,849
Frankfort, KY$62,841
Oklahoma City, OK$62,794
Chillicothe, OH$62,766
Longview, TX$62,759
Melbourne, FL$62,752
Sioux Falls, SD$62,642
Mobile, AL$62,636
Terre Haute, IN$62,608
Altoona, PA$62,567
Amarillo, TX$62,519
Killeen, TX$62,498
Fayetteville, AR$62,443
Chattanooga, TN$62,422
Sioux City, IA$62,361
Idaho Falls, ID$62,347
Lynchburg, VA$62,292
Gainesville, FL$62,202
Portsmouth, OH$62,168
Little Rock, AR$62,154
Lafayette, LA$62,127
Youngstown, OH$62,127
Daytona Beach, FL$62,086
Clarksville, TN$62,079
Pensacola, FL$62,072
Temple, TX$62,067
Hopkinsville, KY$61,866
Erie, PA$61,852
Florence, SC$61,824
Charleston, WV$61,714
Great Falls, MT$61,680
Macon, GA$61,584
Tallahassee, FL$61,577
Fayetteville, NC$61,563
Waco, TX$61,549
Helena, MT$61,501
Pine Bluff, AR$61,475
Vincennes, IN$61,391
Lubbock, TX$61,364
Alamogordo, NM$61,323
Twin Falls, ID$61,261
Rapid City, SD$61,240
Jackson, MS$61,116
Huntington, WV$61,112
Greenville, MS$61,110
Parkersburg, WV$61,039
Montgomery, AL$61,027
Wichita Falls, TX$60,958
Springfield, MO$60,958
Biloxi, MS$60,924
Monroe, LA$60,855
Johnstown, PA$60,807
Sumter, SC$60,780
Columbus, GA$60,773
Pascagoula, MS$60,642
Abilene, TX$60,642
Kingsport, TN$60,463
Albany, GA$60,463
Gulfport, MS$60,443
Alexandria, LA$60,216
Fort Smith, AR$60,044
El Paso, TX$59,858
Las Cruces, NM$59,549
Harlingen, TX$59,375
Pocatello, ID$59,364
Florence, AL$59,274
Brownsville, TX$59,260
Mcallen, TX$59,116
Dothan, AL$59,020
Columbus, MS$58,612
Altus, OK$58,291
Lawton, OK$58,161
Pierre, SD$57,913
What Skills Can Increase an Apprentice or Licensed 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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
25.11%
Work Ethic
2.26%
Medical Billing
1.45%
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 Apprentice or Licensed 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
$81,113
18%
Spreadsheet Software
$73,551
7%
Problem Solving
$73,551
7%
Initiative
$72,864
6%
Organizational Skills
$71,489
4%
Leadership
$71,489
4%
Get Latest Data
Apprentice or Licensed Optician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Apprentice or Licensed 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,
Apprentice or Licensed Optician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Apprentice or Licensed Optician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for an Apprentice or Licensed Optician
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale
$82,488
$40.0
20%
Healthcare
$72,177
$35.0
5%
How Education impacts an Apprentice or Licensed Optician's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Apprentice or Licensed Opticians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Apprentice or Licensed Optician with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$51,213
and $54,636).
Apprentice or Licensed Optician Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Apprentice or Licensed Optician
No Diploma1.0%
High School54.1%
Associates23.9%
Bachelors19.4%
Masters1.2%
Doctorate0.3%
view as table
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
Apprentice or Licensed Optician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how an Apprentice or Licensed 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$61,115
Average$68,740/year
$72,915
$5,093
Average$5,728/month
$6,076
$1,175
Average$1,322/week
$1,402
$29
Average$33/hour
$35
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$72,915
$6,076
$1,402
$35
Average
$68,740
$5,728
$1,322
$33
25th Percentile
$61,115
$5,093
$1,175
$29
Salaries of jobs related to Apprentice or Licensed Optician
Salaries for an Apprentice or Licensed Optician can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,399 in 2023
to around $55,020 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Apprentice or Licensed Optician salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Apprentice or Licensed Optician Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,399
2024
$55,653
2025
$55,020
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,399
2024
$55,653
2025
$55,020
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Apprentice or Licensed Optician
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Apprentice or Licensed Optician
Here are companies hiring for Apprentice or Licensed Optician and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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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.