Dispensing Opticians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Dispensing Opticians in the United States earn a median salary of $47,260 per year — about $23 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 80K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
The role involves a significant amount of physical, hands-on work such as measuring faces, adjusting frames with tools, and teaching patients how to insert contact lenses. While AI can automate administrative tasks and assist in frame selection via virtual try-on technology, the core requirements of physical fitting, manual repairs, and real-time interpersonal healthcare guidance provide a buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury-Shelton, CTBEST VALUE | $76,820 | Average (99.8) | $76,991 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $76,170 | Average (100.4) | $75,833 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $65,870 | Below avg (87.7) | $75,117 |
| Springfield, MA | $71,000 | Below avg (96.1) | $73,911 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $78,600 | Above avg (106.9) | $73,551 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $72,290 | Average (98.9) | $73,126 |
| Vallejo, CA | $78,830 | Above avg (108.5) | $72,668 |
| Syracuse, NY | $68,880 | Below avg (95.7) | $71,943 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,460 | Above avg (107.8) | $71,866 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $69,530 | Average (98.4) | $70,696 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $71,440 | Average (102.7) | $69,531 |
| New Haven, CT | $72,410 | Above avg (104.6) | $69,253 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $62,930 | Below avg (92.7) | $67,902 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,300 | Above avg (111.0) | $67,862 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $57,670 | Below avg (85.4) | $67,510 |