Opticians, Dispensing · SOC 29-2081
Opticians, Dispensing Salary in the Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area
Figures describe the Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.
Opticians, Dispensing in the Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area earned a median of $60,220 per year ($28.95 per hour) as of the May 2025 BLS OEWS estimates. Pay ranged from $44,860 at the 10th percentile to $78,110 at the 90th. BLS estimates 120 people work in this occupation in the area.
Pay distribution
Half of Opticians, Dispensing in the Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area earn more than $60,220 per year, half earn less; the middle half earn between $57,610 and $61,850.
| Wage | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $44,860 | $57,610 | $60,220 | $61,850 | $78,110 |
| Hourly | $21.57 | $27.70 | $28.95 | $29.74 | $37.55 |
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
- Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area$60,220 median for Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $57,610 to $61,850
- New Yorkstate$63,880 median for New York; middle half earns $50,500 to $73,580
- 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 −6% vs New York overall and +27% vs the U.S. median for this occupation.
Other metro areas in New York
Metro areas in the same state with published May 2025 medians for opticians, dispensing, highest first. Areas without published estimates are not listed.
- Southwest New York nonmetropolitan areathis page$60,220 median for Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area; middle half earns $57,610 to $61,850
- $71,050 median for New York metro area; middle half earns $56,290 to $78,220
- $68,880 median for Syracuse metro area; middle half earns $60,650 to $77,650
- $65,870 median for Watertown metro area; middle half earns $60,520 to $73,230
- $64,280 median for Kiryas Joel metro area; middle half earns $59,110 to $75,030
- $63,710 median for Albany metro area; middle half earns $49,840 to $75,580
- $63,390 median for Kingston metro area; middle half earns $51,410 to $67,610
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 Southwest New York 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.