Optician Optical Associate Salary in the United States
How much does an Optician Optical Associate make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optician Optical Associate in the United States is $69,423 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an Optician Optical Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,479
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,723 to $73,640
Key Factors That Influence Optician Optical Associate Salaries
An Optician Optical Associate'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 Associate Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Optician Optical Associate'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): $66,448
Early Career (1-2 years): $66,690
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,423
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $71,159
Expert (over 8 years): $71,283
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Optician Optical Associate
$66,448
Intermediate Level Optician Optical Associate
$66,690
Senior Level Optician Optical Associate
$69,423
Specialist Level Optician Optical Associate
$71,159
Expert Level Optician Optical Associate
$71,283
$66,4480 yr
$66,690< 2 yrs
$69,4232-4 yrs
$71,1595-8 yrs
$71,283> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Optician Optical Associate 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 Associates.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $76,865.
California: $76,574.
Massachusetts: $75,553.
District of Columbia$76,865
California$76,574
Massachusetts$75,553
Washington$75,275
New Jersey$75,248
Alaska$75,151
Connecticut$74,192
New York$73,804
Hawaii$72,561
Rhode Island$71,978
Maryland$71,582
Minnesota$71,041
Colorado$70,832
Illinois$70,763
Oregon$70,499
Delaware$70,305
New Hampshire$70,183
Virginia$69,909
Pennsylvania$69,111
Nevada$68,708
North Dakota$68,576
Michigan$68,368
Wisconsin$68,292
Vermont$68,139
Texas$67,715
Maine$67,688
Arizona$67,646
Ohio$67,597
Georgia$66,959
Indiana$66,639
Wyoming$66,577
Utah$66,480
Iowa$66,438
Kansas$66,105
Louisiana$66,007
North Carolina$65,973
Missouri$65,959
Florida$65,688
Montana$65,542
Nebraska$65,404
Kentucky$65,327
South Carolina$65,049
Tennessee$64,876
Idaho$64,806
New Mexico$64,300
Oklahoma$64,189
Alabama$63,779
South Dakota$63,092
Arkansas$62,717
West Virginia$62,516
Mississippi$61,912
Top Paying Cities for Optician Optical Associates
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: $87,563
San Francisco: $86,605
Oakland: $84,779
San Jose, CA$87,563
San Francisco, CA$86,605
Oakland, CA$84,779
New York, NY$79,933
Paramus, NJ$78,961
Queens Village, NY$78,958
Passaic, NJ$78,892
Bergenfield, NJ$78,885
Stamford, CT$78,733
Huntington, NY$78,704
Newark, NJ$78,191
Bridgeport, CT$78,045
Vallejo, CA$77,907
New Brunswick, NJ$77,879
Petaluma, CA$77,837
Middlesex, NJ$77,705
Somerset, NJ$77,657
Santa Cruz, CA$77,566
Boston, MA$77,143
Monterey, CA$76,899
Seattle, WA$76,740
Santa Rosa, CA$76,726
Los Angeles, CA$76,706
Juneau, AK$76,525
Washington, DC$76,449
Orange, CA$76,202
Santa Ana, CA$76,018
Long Beach, CA$75,949
Anaheim, CA$75,935
Anchorage, AK$75,900
Santa Maria, CA$75,692
Everett, WA$75,678
Danbury, CT$75,434
Bremerton, WA$75,338
Tacoma, WA$75,088
New Suffolk, NY$75,087
Sacramento, CA$75,067
Santa Barbara, CA$74,991
Trenton, NJ$74,914
San Diego, CA$74,914
Brockton, MA$74,838
Fairbanks, AK$74,668
Lompoc, CA$74,491
Lowell, MA$74,435
Ventura, CA$74,422
Nashua, NH$74,408
Stockton, CA$74,401
Modesto, CA$73,894
Poughkeepsie, NY$73,741
Olympia, WA$73,609
Kennewick, WA$73,609
New Haven, CT$73,582
Lawrence, MA$73,332
Hartford, CT$73,262
Riverside, CA$73,248
New Bedford, MA$73,179
Richland, WA$73,179
Bakersfield, CA$73,082
San Bernardino, CA$73,054
New Britain, CT$73,047
Atlantic City, NJ$73,047
New London, CT$73,019
Norwich, CT$72,998
Portsmouth, NH$72,985
Boulder, CO$72,837
Portland, OR$72,742
Worcester, MA$72,735
Minneapolis, MN$72,519
Philadelphia, PA$72,422
Honolulu, HI$72,193
Saint Paul, MN$72,160
Vineland, NJ$72,144
Providence, RI$71,943
Chicago, IL$71,742
Bellingham, WA$71,659
Springfield, MA$71,603
Baltimore, MD$71,582
Chico, CA$71,409
Pittsfield, MA$71,221
Manchester, NH$71,089
Spokane, WA$70,784
Denver, CO$70,777
Albany, NY$70,451
Troy, NY$70,423
Nassau, NY$70,349
Schenectady, NY$70,277
Wilmington, DE$70,221
Burlington, VT$70,124
Salem, OR$70,097
Portland, ME$69,881
Yakima, WA$69,812
Rochester, MN$69,597
Reno, NV$69,562
Fresno, CA$69,562
Milwaukee, WI$69,499
Detroit, MI$69,430
Ann Arbor, MI$69,418
Allentown, PA$69,409
Colorado Springs, CO$69,291
Syracuse, NY$69,256
Carson City, NV$69,256
Houston, TX$69,159
Eugene, OR$69,125
Gary, IN$69,041
Springfield, OR$68,986
Bismarck, ND$68,972
Galveston, TX$68,923
Medford, OR$68,819
Fort Collins, CO$68,791
Concord, NH$68,757
Austin, TX$68,736
Mesa, AZ$68,590
Reading, PA$68,583
Phoenix, AZ$68,576
Dallas, TX$68,555
Saint Cloud, MN$68,489
Madison, WI$68,396
Utica, NY$68,208
Rochester, NY$68,097
Des Moines, IA$68,090
Raleigh, NC$68,083
Atlanta, GA$67,979
Battle Creek, MI$67,958
Salt Lake City, UT$67,937
Lancaster, PA$67,833
Harrisburg, PA$67,736
Kansas City, MO$67,667
Champaign, IL$67,653
Kansas City, KS$67,653
Fort Worth, TX$67,646
Columbus, OH$67,634
Boca Raton, FL$67,618
Pittsburgh, PA$67,590
Richmond, VA$67,563
Indianapolis, IN$67,549
Cleveland, OH$67,542
Las Vegas, NV$67,458
Cincinnati, OH$67,458
Petersburg, VA$67,354
Huntsville, AL$67,250
Lansing, MI$67,204
Lebanon, PA$67,195
Pueblo, CO$67,188
Appleton, WI$67,167
Buffalo, NY$67,139
Dayton, OH$67,118
Racine, WI$67,104
Charlotte, NC$67,097
Saint Louis, MO$67,077
York, PA$67,035
Elkhart, IN$67,035
Gastonia, NC$67,022
Billings, MT$67,005
Beaumont, TX$66,986
Lorain, OH$66,972
Benton Harbor, MI$66,959
Toledo, OH$66,945
Binghamton, NY$66,910
Rock Hill, SC$66,903
Rockford, IL$66,868
Springfield, IL$66,841
Elyria, OH$66,834
Fargo, ND$66,834
Flagstaff, AZ$66,785
Fort Lauderdale, FL$66,743
Duluth, MN$66,702
Miami, FL$66,702
Cheyenne, WY$66,653
Grand Forks, ND$66,653
Bangor, ME$66,500
Cedar Rapids, IA$66,424
Durham, NC$66,395
Louisville, KY$66,389
Grand Rapids, MI$66,375
Hialeah, FL$66,368
Casper, WY$66,271
Scranton, PA$66,188
New Orleans, LA$66,167
Virginia Beach, VA$66,160
Akron, OH$66,126
Peoria, IL$66,035
Sarasota, FL$66,021
Nashville, TN$65,973
Omaha, NE$65,973
Green Bay, WI$65,973
Baton Rouge, LA$65,938
Charleston, SC$65,924
Jamestown, NY$65,889
Davenport, IA$65,889
Tucson, AZ$65,855
Saint Petersburg, FL$65,813
Tampa, FL$65,799
Evansville, IN$65,758
Port Arthur, TX$65,758
Bradenton, FL$65,730
Santa Fe, NM$65,605
Orlando, FL$65,480
Clearwater, FL$65,459
Canton, OH$65,313
La Crosse, WI$65,313
Albuquerque, NM$65,272
Newport News, VA$65,265
High Point, NC$65,244
Ogden, UT$65,216
Corpus Christi, TX$65,161
Norfolk, VA$65,119
Laramie, WY$65,119
Rock Island, IL$65,077
Saginaw, MI$65,063
Jacksonville, FL$65,056
Salisbury, NC$65,043
Boise, ID$65,029
Moline, IL$64,994
Fort Myers, FL$64,973
Memphis, TN$64,959
Tulsa, OK$64,924
Waterloo, IA$64,883
Spartanburg, SC$64,813
Lincoln, NE$64,779
Fort Wayne, IN$64,765
Provo, UT$64,758
Cedar Falls, IA$64,675
San Antonio, TX$64,647
Greensboro, NC$64,619
South Bend, IN$64,612
Savannah, GA$64,536
Muskegon, MI$64,508
Birmingham, AL$64,501
Winston Salem, NC$64,467
Lake Charles, LA$64,300
Anderson, IN$64,286
Lexington, KY$64,265
Augusta, GA$64,244
Greenville, SC$64,244
Lima, OH$64,189
Wichita, KS$64,182
Tuscaloosa, AL$64,182
Columbia, SC$64,119
Springfield, OH$64,105
Asheville, NC$63,994
Bloomington, IN$63,946
Knoxville, TN$63,696
Shreveport, LA$63,689
Wilmington, NC$63,599
Roanoke, VA$63,599
Topeka, KS$63,474
Frankfort, KY$63,466
Oklahoma City, OK$63,418
Chillicothe, OH$63,390
Longview, TX$63,383
Melbourne, FL$63,376
Sioux Falls, SD$63,265
Mobile, AL$63,258
Terre Haute, IN$63,231
Altoona, PA$63,189
Amarillo, TX$63,140
Killeen, TX$63,119
Fayetteville, AR$63,064
Chattanooga, TN$63,043
Sioux City, IA$62,981
Idaho Falls, ID$62,967
Lynchburg, VA$62,911
Gainesville, FL$62,821
Portsmouth, OH$62,786
Little Rock, AR$62,772
Lafayette, LA$62,745
Youngstown, OH$62,745
Daytona Beach, FL$62,703
Clarksville, TN$62,696
Pensacola, FL$62,689
Temple, TX$62,684
Hopkinsville, KY$62,481
Erie, PA$62,467
Florence, SC$62,439
Charleston, WV$62,328
Great Falls, MT$62,293
Macon, GA$62,196
Tallahassee, FL$62,189
Fayetteville, NC$62,175
Waco, TX$62,161
Helena, MT$62,113
Pine Bluff, AR$62,086
Vincennes, IN$62,002
Lubbock, TX$61,974
Alamogordo, NM$61,932
Twin Falls, ID$61,870
Rapid City, SD$61,849
Jackson, MS$61,724
Huntington, WV$61,719
Greenville, MS$61,717
Parkersburg, WV$61,646
Montgomery, AL$61,634
Wichita Falls, TX$61,564
Springfield, MO$61,564
Biloxi, MS$61,530
Monroe, LA$61,460
Johnstown, PA$61,412
Sumter, SC$61,384
Columbus, GA$61,377
Pascagoula, MS$61,245
Abilene, TX$61,245
Kingsport, TN$61,065
Albany, GA$61,065
Gulfport, MS$61,044
Alexandria, LA$60,815
Fort Smith, AR$60,641
El Paso, TX$60,454
Las Cruces, NM$60,141
Harlingen, TX$59,965
Pocatello, ID$59,954
Florence, AL$59,864
Brownsville, TX$59,850
Mcallen, TX$59,704
Dothan, AL$59,607
Columbus, MS$59,194
Altus, OK$58,871
Lawton, OK$58,739
Pierre, SD$58,489
What Skills Can Increase an Optician Optical Associate'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 Associate'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
$81,919
18%
Spreadsheet Software
$74,283
7%
Problem Solving
$74,283
7%
Initiative
$73,588
6%
Organizational Skills
$72,200
4%
Leadership
$72,200
4%
Get Latest Data
Optician Optical Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Optician Optical Associate 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 Associate positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Optician Optical Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for an Optician Optical Associate
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale
$83,308
$40.0
20%
Healthcare
$72,894
$35.0
5%
How Education impacts an Optician Optical Associate's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Optician Optical Associates 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 Associate with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$51,213
and $54,636).
Optician Optical Associate Salaries by Degree Level
Understanding how an Optician Optical Associate'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
$61,723
Average$69,423/year
$73,640
$5,144
Average$5,785/month
$6,137
$1,187
Average$1,335/week
$1,416
$30
Average$33/hour
$35
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$73,640
$6,137
$1,416
$35
Average
$69,423
$5,785
$1,335
$33
25th Percentile
$61,723
$5,144
$1,187
$30
Salaries of jobs related to Optician Optical Associate
Salaries for an Optician Optical Associate can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,950 in 2023
to around $55,567 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Optician Optical Associate salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Optician Optical Associate Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,950
2024
$56,206
2025
$55,567
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,950
2024
$56,206
2025
$55,567
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Optician Optical Associate
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Optician Optical Associate
Here are companies hiring for Optician Optical Associate 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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