Opticians, Dispensing salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Opticians, Dispensing in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $59,520 a year ($28.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,010 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 3% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $61,310. 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 $57,120, close to the median.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 25th percentile | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Median | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| 75th percentile | $67,170 | $32.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,010 | $37.50 |
| Average (mean) | $57,120 | $27.46 |
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 | $4,960 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,480 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,289.23 |
| Weekly | $1,144.62 |
| Hourly | $28.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,520 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | $62,980 | 30 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $58,190 | 40 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $57,140 | 60 |
| Richmond, VA | $55,020 | 310 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,650 | 90 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,390 | 400 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,300 | 1,070 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $48,890 | 50 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48,320 | 500 |
| Salisbury, MD | $46,020 | 40 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $43,660 | 40 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $39,780 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $38,650 | 80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $38,510 | 110 |
| Charleston, WV | $38,130 | 50 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $38,120 | 30 |
| Morgantown, WV | $36,790 | 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,660 | $22.44 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $70,300 | $33.80 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $55,530 | $26.70 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $97,390 | $46.82 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $58,810 | $28.28 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $57,630 | $27.71 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $49,250 | $23.68 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $105,290 | $50.62 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Surgical Technologist | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $93,030 | $44.73 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Paramedic | $75,190 | $36.15 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $59,520 a year, or $28.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $78,010 a year. The top 25% earn $67,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,100 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $42,750 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,080 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.