SOC 29-2081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Opticians, Dispensing — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington, DC the median wage for Opticians, Dispensing reaches $59,520 a year.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington, DC the median wage for Opticians, Dispensing reaches $59,520 a year. That is 25.9% more than the national median of $47,260. Pay ranges from under $37,100 at the tenth percentile to more than $78,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $42,750 to $67,170.
The area has 1,080 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.73 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 707 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 444th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,100 | −21.5% |
| 25th | $42,750 | −9.5% |
| Median (50th) | $59,520 | +25.9% |
| 75th | $67,170 | +42.1% |
| 90th | $78,010 | +65.1% |
| Mean | $57,120 | +20.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $59,520 buys what $54,158 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,158US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,520 a year, 25.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,100 to $78,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,080 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $59,520, or $28.62 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,260, so pay in Washington, DC is 25.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington, DC earns more than $78,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,100 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,080 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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