Opticians, Dispensing salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Opticians, Dispensing in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median of $38,300 a year ($18.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,400 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 5% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $36,360. There are 0.28 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $39,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| 25th percentile | $32,950 | $15.84 |
| Median | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| 75th percentile | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Average (mean) | $39,400 | $18.94 |
Half of opticians, dispensing earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,191.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,595.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,473.08 |
| Weekly | $736.54 |
| Hourly | $18.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $37,580 | 60 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $36,910 | 140 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $36,910 | 50 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $36,360 | 40 |
| Alexandria, LA | $36,160 | 40 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $35,130 | 40 |
| Lafayette, LA | $34,300 | 70 |
| Monroe, LA | $33,410 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for opticians, dispensing
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 |
| New York | $63,880 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 |
| Florida | $58,850 |
| Alaska | $58,250 |
| California | $57,990 |
| Vermont | $57,350 |
See Opticians, Dispensing pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $60,640 | $29.15 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,020 | $22.13 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $70,740 | $34.01 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $46,930 | $22.56 |
| Surgical Technologist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $35,660 | $17.14 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $35,180 | $16.91 |
| Paramedic | $59,210 | $28.47 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,030 | $21.65 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $79,030 | $38.00 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $38,300 a year, or $18.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn at least $47,400 a year. The top 25% earn $44,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,950 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $32,950 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About 120 opticians, dispensing are employed in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.