Opticians, Dispensing salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Opticians, Dispensing in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $60,480 a year ($29.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,570 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $57,990. There are 0.34 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $66,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| 25th percentile | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| Median | $60,480 | $29.08 |
| 75th percentile | $78,910 | $37.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,570 | $40.18 |
| Average (mean) | $66,100 | $31.78 |
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 | $5,040 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,520 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,326.15 |
| Weekly | $1,163.08 |
| Hourly | $29.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,480 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,460 | 120 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,240 | 580 |
| Modesto, CA | $59,010 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,360 | 940 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,250 | 120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,240 | 490 |
| Napa, CA | $57,620 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,130 | 3,070 |
| Chico, CA | $56,100 | 30 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $55,950 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,680 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $55,380 | 40 |
| Salinas, CA | $55,140 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,070 | 870 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,960 | 160 |
| Visalia, CA | $50,590 | 40 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,520 | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,970 | 130 |
| Redding, CA | $46,040 | 40 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $84,870 | $40.80 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $81,170 | $39.02 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $154,850 | $74.45 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $86,890 | $41.78 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $54,650 | $26.27 |
| Surgical Technologist | $106,840 | $51.37 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $173,150 | $83.25 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $67,280 | $32.35 |
| Dietetic Technician | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $51,300 | $24.67 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $97,590 | $46.92 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $60,480 a year, or $29.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $83,570 a year. The top 25% earn $78,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,750 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $50,750 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 390 opticians, dispensing are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.