Optician Optical Assistant Salary in the United States
How much does an Optician Optical Assistant make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optician Optical Assistant in the United States is $68,249 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an Optician Optical Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,169
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,679 to $72,395
Key Factors That Influence Optician Optical Assistant Salaries
An Optician Optical Assistant'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 Optical Assistant Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Optician Optical Assistant'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): $65,324
Early Career (1-2 years): $65,562
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,249
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $69,956
Expert (over 8 years): $70,078
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Optician Optical Assistant
$65,324
Intermediate Level Optician Optical Assistant
$65,562
Senior Level Optician Optical Assistant
$68,249
Specialist Level Optician Optical Assistant
$69,956
Expert Level Optician Optical Assistant
$70,078
$65,3240 yr
$65,562< 2 yrs
$68,2492-4 yrs
$69,9565-8 yrs
$70,078> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Optician Optical Assistant 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 Optician Optical Assistants.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $75,566.
California: $75,279.
Massachusetts: $74,276.
District of Columbia$75,566
California$75,279
Massachusetts$74,276
Washington$74,003
New Jersey$73,976
Alaska$73,880
Connecticut$72,938
New York$72,556
Hawaii$71,334
Rhode Island$70,761
Maryland$70,372
Minnesota$69,840
Colorado$69,635
Illinois$69,567
Oregon$69,307
Delaware$69,116
New Hampshire$68,996
Virginia$68,727
Pennsylvania$67,942
Nevada$67,546
North Dakota$67,417
Michigan$67,212
Wisconsin$67,137
Vermont$66,987
Texas$66,570
Maine$66,543
Arizona$66,502
Ohio$66,454
Georgia$65,827
Indiana$65,513
Wyoming$65,451
Utah$65,356
Iowa$65,315
Kansas$64,987
Louisiana$64,892
North Carolina$64,857
Missouri$64,844
Florida$64,578
Montana$64,434
Nebraska$64,298
Kentucky$64,223
South Carolina$63,950
Tennessee$63,779
Idaho$63,711
New Mexico$63,213
Oklahoma$63,103
Alabama$62,701
South Dakota$62,025
Arkansas$61,657
West Virginia$61,459
Mississippi$60,865
Top Paying Cities for Optician Optical Assistants
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: $86,083
San Francisco: $85,140
Oakland: $83,346
San Jose, CA$86,083
San Francisco, CA$85,140
Oakland, CA$83,346
New York, NY$78,582
Paramus, NJ$77,626
Queens Village, NY$77,623
Passaic, NJ$77,558
Bergenfield, NJ$77,552
Stamford, CT$77,402
Huntington, NY$77,374
Newark, NJ$76,869
Bridgeport, CT$76,725
Vallejo, CA$76,589
New Brunswick, NJ$76,562
Petaluma, CA$76,521
Middlesex, NJ$76,392
Somerset, NJ$76,344
Santa Cruz, CA$76,255
Boston, MA$75,839
Monterey, CA$75,599
Seattle, WA$75,443
Santa Rosa, CA$75,429
Los Angeles, CA$75,409
Juneau, AK$75,231
Washington, DC$75,156
Orange, CA$74,913
Santa Ana, CA$74,733
Long Beach, CA$74,665
Anaheim, CA$74,651
Anchorage, AK$74,617
Santa Maria, CA$74,412
Everett, WA$74,399
Danbury, CT$74,158
Bremerton, WA$74,064
Tacoma, WA$73,819
New Suffolk, NY$73,817
Sacramento, CA$73,798
Santa Barbara, CA$73,723
Trenton, NJ$73,648
San Diego, CA$73,648
Brockton, MA$73,573
Fairbanks, AK$73,406
Lompoc, CA$73,232
Lowell, MA$73,176
Ventura, CA$73,163
Nashua, NH$73,150
Stockton, CA$73,143
Modesto, CA$72,645
Poughkeepsie, NY$72,495
Olympia, WA$72,365
Kennewick, WA$72,365
New Haven, CT$72,338
Lawrence, MA$72,092
Hartford, CT$72,024
Riverside, CA$72,010
New Bedford, MA$71,942
Richland, WA$71,942
Bakersfield, CA$71,846
San Bernardino, CA$71,819
New Britain, CT$71,812
Atlantic City, NJ$71,812
New London, CT$71,785
Norwich, CT$71,764
Portsmouth, NH$71,751
Boulder, CO$71,606
Portland, OR$71,512
Worcester, MA$71,505
Minneapolis, MN$71,293
Philadelphia, PA$71,198
Honolulu, HI$70,973
Saint Paul, MN$70,940
Vineland, NJ$70,925
Providence, RI$70,727
Chicago, IL$70,529
Bellingham, WA$70,447
Springfield, MA$70,392
Baltimore, MD$70,372
Chico, CA$70,201
Pittsfield, MA$70,017
Manchester, NH$69,887
Spokane, WA$69,587
Denver, CO$69,580
Albany, NY$69,259
Troy, NY$69,232
Nassau, NY$69,159
Schenectady, NY$69,089
Wilmington, DE$69,034
Burlington, VT$68,939
Salem, OR$68,911
Portland, ME$68,700
Yakima, WA$68,632
Rochester, MN$68,420
Reno, NV$68,386
Fresno, CA$68,386
Milwaukee, WI$68,324
Detroit, MI$68,256
Ann Arbor, MI$68,245
Allentown, PA$68,236
Colorado Springs, CO$68,120
Syracuse, NY$68,086
Carson City, NV$68,086
Houston, TX$67,990
Eugene, OR$67,956
Gary, IN$67,874
Springfield, OR$67,819
Bismarck, ND$67,806
Galveston, TX$67,758
Medford, OR$67,656
Fort Collins, CO$67,628
Concord, NH$67,594
Austin, TX$67,574
Mesa, AZ$67,430
Reading, PA$67,424
Phoenix, AZ$67,417
Dallas, TX$67,396
Saint Cloud, MN$67,331
Madison, WI$67,239
Utica, NY$67,055
Rochester, NY$66,946
Des Moines, IA$66,939
Raleigh, NC$66,932
Atlanta, GA$66,830
Battle Creek, MI$66,809
Salt Lake City, UT$66,789
Lancaster, PA$66,686
Harrisburg, PA$66,591
Kansas City, MO$66,523
Champaign, IL$66,509
Kansas City, KS$66,509
Fort Worth, TX$66,502
Columbus, OH$66,491
Boca Raton, FL$66,475
Pittsburgh, PA$66,448
Richmond, VA$66,420
Indianapolis, IN$66,407
Cleveland, OH$66,400
Las Vegas, NV$66,318
Cincinnati, OH$66,318
Petersburg, VA$66,216
Huntsville, AL$66,113
Lansing, MI$66,067
Lebanon, PA$66,059
Pueblo, CO$66,052
Appleton, WI$66,031
Buffalo, NY$66,004
Dayton, OH$65,984
Racine, WI$65,970
Charlotte, NC$65,963
Saint Louis, MO$65,943
York, PA$65,902
Elkhart, IN$65,902
Gastonia, NC$65,889
Billings, MT$65,872
Beaumont, TX$65,854
Lorain, OH$65,840
Benton Harbor, MI$65,827
Toledo, OH$65,813
Binghamton, NY$65,779
Rock Hill, SC$65,772
Rockford, IL$65,738
Springfield, IL$65,711
Elyria, OH$65,704
Fargo, ND$65,704
Flagstaff, AZ$65,656
Fort Lauderdale, FL$65,615
Duluth, MN$65,574
Miami, FL$65,574
Cheyenne, WY$65,526
Grand Forks, ND$65,526
Bangor, ME$65,376
Cedar Rapids, IA$65,301
Durham, NC$65,272
Louisville, KY$65,267
Grand Rapids, MI$65,253
Hialeah, FL$65,246
Casper, WY$65,151
Scranton, PA$65,069
New Orleans, LA$65,049
Virginia Beach, VA$65,042
Akron, OH$65,008
Peoria, IL$64,919
Sarasota, FL$64,905
Nashville, TN$64,857
Omaha, NE$64,857
Green Bay, WI$64,857
Baton Rouge, LA$64,823
Charleston, SC$64,810
Jamestown, NY$64,776
Davenport, IA$64,776
Tucson, AZ$64,741
Saint Petersburg, FL$64,700
Tampa, FL$64,687
Evansville, IN$64,646
Port Arthur, TX$64,646
Bradenton, FL$64,619
Santa Fe, NM$64,496
Orlando, FL$64,373
Clearwater, FL$64,352
Canton, OH$64,209
La Crosse, WI$64,209
Albuquerque, NM$64,168
Newport News, VA$64,161
High Point, NC$64,141
Ogden, UT$64,113
Corpus Christi, TX$64,059
Norfolk, VA$64,018
Laramie, WY$64,018
Rock Island, IL$63,977
Saginaw, MI$63,963
Jacksonville, FL$63,957
Salisbury, NC$63,943
Boise, ID$63,929
Moline, IL$63,895
Fort Myers, FL$63,875
Memphis, TN$63,861
Tulsa, OK$63,827
Waterloo, IA$63,786
Spartanburg, SC$63,718
Lincoln, NE$63,684
Fort Wayne, IN$63,670
Provo, UT$63,663
Cedar Falls, IA$63,581
San Antonio, TX$63,554
Greensboro, NC$63,527
South Bend, IN$63,520
Savannah, GA$63,445
Muskegon, MI$63,417
Birmingham, AL$63,411
Winston Salem, NC$63,377
Lake Charles, LA$63,213
Anderson, IN$63,199
Lexington, KY$63,178
Augusta, GA$63,158
Greenville, SC$63,158
Lima, OH$63,103
Wichita, KS$63,097
Tuscaloosa, AL$63,097
Columbia, SC$63,035
Springfield, OH$63,021
Asheville, NC$62,912
Bloomington, IN$62,865
Knoxville, TN$62,619
Shreveport, LA$62,612
Wilmington, NC$62,523
Roanoke, VA$62,523
Topeka, KS$62,400
Frankfort, KY$62,393
Oklahoma City, OK$62,346
Chillicothe, OH$62,319
Longview, TX$62,312
Melbourne, FL$62,305
Sioux Falls, SD$62,196
Mobile, AL$62,189
Terre Haute, IN$62,162
Altoona, PA$62,121
Amarillo, TX$62,073
Killeen, TX$62,052
Fayetteville, AR$61,998
Chattanooga, TN$61,977
Sioux City, IA$61,916
Idaho Falls, ID$61,902
Lynchburg, VA$61,848
Gainesville, FL$61,759
Portsmouth, OH$61,725
Little Rock, AR$61,711
Lafayette, LA$61,684
Youngstown, OH$61,684
Daytona Beach, FL$61,643
Clarksville, TN$61,636
Pensacola, FL$61,629
Temple, TX$61,624
Hopkinsville, KY$61,424
Erie, PA$61,411
Florence, SC$61,384
Charleston, WV$61,274
Great Falls, MT$61,240
Macon, GA$61,145
Tallahassee, FL$61,138
Fayetteville, NC$61,124
Waco, TX$61,111
Helena, MT$61,063
Pine Bluff, AR$61,037
Vincennes, IN$60,954
Lubbock, TX$60,926
Alamogordo, NM$60,885
Twin Falls, ID$60,824
Rapid City, SD$60,803
Jackson, MS$60,681
Huntington, WV$60,676
Greenville, MS$60,674
Parkersburg, WV$60,604
Montgomery, AL$60,592
Wichita Falls, TX$60,524
Springfield, MO$60,524
Biloxi, MS$60,489
Monroe, LA$60,421
Johnstown, PA$60,373
Sumter, SC$60,346
Columbus, GA$60,339
Pascagoula, MS$60,210
Abilene, TX$60,210
Kingsport, TN$60,032
Albany, GA$60,032
Gulfport, MS$60,012
Alexandria, LA$59,786
Fort Smith, AR$59,616
El Paso, TX$59,432
Las Cruces, NM$59,124
Harlingen, TX$58,951
Pocatello, ID$58,940
Florence, AL$58,851
Brownsville, TX$58,838
Mcallen, TX$58,694
Dothan, AL$58,599
Columbus, MS$58,194
Altus, OK$57,875
Lawton, OK$57,746
Pierre, SD$57,500
What Skills Can Increase an Optician Optical Assistant'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 Optician Optical Assistant'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
$80,534
18%
Spreadsheet Software
$73,027
7%
Problem Solving
$73,027
7%
Initiative
$72,344
6%
Organizational Skills
$70,979
4%
Leadership
$70,979
4%
Get Latest Data
Optician Optical Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Optician Optical Assistant 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 Optical Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Optician Optical Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for an Optician Optical Assistant
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale
$81,899
$39.0
20%
Healthcare
$71,662
$34.0
5%
How Education impacts an Optician Optical Assistant's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Optician Optical Assistants 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 Optician Optical Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$51,213
and $54,636).
Optician Optical Assistant Salaries by Degree Level
Understanding how an Optician Optical Assistant'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
$60,679
Average$68,249/year
$72,395
$5,057
Average$5,687/month
$6,033
$1,167
Average$1,312/week
$1,392
$29
Average$33/hour
$35
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$72,395
$6,033
$1,392
$35
Average
$68,249
$5,687
$1,312
$33
25th Percentile
$60,679
$5,057
$1,167
$29
Salaries of jobs related to Optician Optical Assistant
Salaries for an Optician Optical Assistant can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,004 in 2023
to around $54,628 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Optician Optical Assistant salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Optician Optical Assistant Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,004
2024
$55,256
2025
$54,628
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,004
2024
$55,256
2025
$54,628
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Optician Optical Assistant
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Optician Optical Assistant
Here are companies hiring for Optician Optical Assistant 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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