Opticians, Dispensing · SOC 29-2081
Opticians, Dispensing Salary in the North Missouri nonmetropolitan area
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025North Missouri nonmetropolitan area
Figures describe the North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.
Opticians, Dispensing in the North Missouri nonmetropolitan area earned a median of $36,640 per year ($17.62 per hour) as of the May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates. Pay ranged from $31,210 at the 10th percentile to $56,490 at the 90th. BLS estimates 90 people work in this occupation in the area.
Pay distribution
Half of Opticians, Dispensing in the North Missouri nonmetropolitan area earn more than $36,640 per year, half earn less; the middle half earn between $34,480 and $43,670.
| Wage | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $31,210 | $34,480 | $36,640 | $43,670 | $56,490 |
| Hourly | $15.00 | $16.58 | $17.62 | $20.99 | $27.16 |
A percentile is a cut point: 25% of workers in this occupation and area earn less than the 25th-percentile wage. The median is the 50th percentile — half earn less, half earn more.
How this area compares
- North Missouri nonmetropolitan area$36,640 median for North Missouri nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $34,480 to $43,670
- Missouristate$38,750 median for Missouri; middle half earns $36,050 to $46,680
- United Statesnational$47,260 median for United States; middle half earns $38,820 to $61,700
Bars span the 25th–75th percentile (the middle half of workers); the tick marks the median.
The median here is −5% vs Missouri overall and −22% vs the U.S. median for this occupation.
Other metro areas in Missouri
Metro areas in the same state with published May 2025 medians for opticians, dispensing, highest first. Areas without published estimates are not listed.
- North Missouri nonmetropolitan areathis page$36,640 median for North Missouri nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $34,480 to $43,670
- $43,440 median for Jefferson City metro area; middle half earns $35,680 to $65,760
- $40,930 median for Kansas City metro area; middle half earns $38,160 to $48,190
- $39,230 median for St. Louis metro area; middle half earns $37,370 to $47,890
- $37,650 median for Springfield metro area; middle half earns $35,940 to $46,060
- $36,680 median for Joplin metro area; middle half earns $33,860 to $41,970
- $36,600 median for Columbia metro area; middle half earns $34,480 to $44,020
Bars span the 25th–75th percentile (the middle half of workers); the tick marks the median.
Keep exploring
Other occupations in the same SOC group with published medians here, largest employment first:
Highest-paying metro areas for opticians, dispensings · Highest-paying occupations in North Missouri nonmetropolitan area
About this estimate
These figures are survey estimates from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — modeled from employer reports collected over three years and benchmarked to May 2025. They describe what employers in this area currently pay across all industries, not what any individual worker will be offered.
Employment counts wage-and-salary jobs in the occupation (self-employed workers are excluded). Estimates carry sampling error; percentile wages are rounded by BLS. Some values are suppressed by BLS for confidentiality or quality — suppressed values appear here as “not published”, never as zero. Read the full methodology.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.