Opticians, Dispensing · SOC 29-2081
Opticians, Dispensing Salary in the Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Figures describe the Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.
Opticians, Dispensing in the Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area earned a median of $37,810 per year ($18.18 per hour) as of the May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates. Pay ranged from $29,340 at the 10th percentile to $47,110 at the 90th. BLS estimates 40 people work in this occupation in the area.
Pay distribution
Half of Opticians, Dispensing in the Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area earn more than $37,810 per year, half earn less; the middle half earn between $33,650 and $42,610.
| Wage | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $29,340 | $33,650 | $37,810 | $42,610 | $47,110 |
| Hourly | $14.11 | $16.18 | $18.18 | $20.49 | $22.65 |
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
- Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area$37,810 median for Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $33,650 to $42,610
- West Virginiastate$38,120 median for West Virginia; middle half earns $33,340 to $46,630
- 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 −1% vs West Virginia overall and −20% vs the U.S. median for this occupation.
Other metro areas in West Virginia
Metro areas in the same state with published May 2025 medians for opticians, dispensing, highest first. Areas without published estimates are not listed.
- Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan areathis page$37,810 median for Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $33,650 to $42,610
- $39,780 median for Wheeling metro area; middle half earns $36,610 to $47,610
- $38,650 median for Huntington metro area; middle half earns $33,720 to $53,200
- $38,130 median for Charleston metro area; middle half earns $37,310 to $46,630
- $38,120 median for Parkersburg metro area; middle half earns $32,440 to $44,410
- $36,790 median for Morgantown metro area; middle half earns $32,830 to $47,800
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 Southern West Virginia 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.