Opticians, Dispensing Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Opticians, Dispensings in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $61,940 a year, or about $29.78 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $56,095 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 86.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About opticians, dispensings
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $66K | +42% | 2,260 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +39% | 580 |
| Massachusetts | $64K | +37% | 1,430 |
| New York | $60K | +29% | 5,180 |
| District of Columbia | $59K | +27% | 60 |
| California | $58K | +24% | 8,180 |
| Vermont | $58K | +23% | 90 |
| Florida | $57K | +22% | 5,030 |
| Alaska | $56K | +21% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $56K | +20% | 160 |
| Virginia | $54K | +17% | 2,500 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +8% | 280 |
| North Carolina | $50K | +6% | 1,890 |
| Oregon | $50K | +6% | 1,090 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +6% | 500 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +5% | 1,630 |
| Washington | $48K | +4% | 2,000 |
| Ohio | $48K | +3% | 3,190 |
| Tennessee | $48K | +3% | 1,640 |
| Maryland | $48K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $48K | +2% | 1,440 |
| South Carolina | $47K | +1% | 870 |
| Arizona | $47K | -0% | 1,670 |
| Maine | $46K | -1% | 310 |
| Georgia | $46K | -2% | 2,580 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -2% | 660 |
| Montana | $45K | -4% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -4% | 980 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | -5% | 2,750 |
| Wisconsin | $43K | -7% | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $42K | -10% | 1,000 |
| North Dakota | $41K | -11% | 300 |
| Illinois | $41K | -11% | 3,660 |
| South Dakota | $41K | -12% | 420 |
| Delaware | $40K | -13% | 280 |
| Michigan | $40K | -14% | 3,220 |
| Utah | $40K | -15% | 680 |
| Idaho | $40K | -15% | 570 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -17% | 670 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -17% | 400 |
| Kansas | $38K | -19% | 810 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -19% | 160 |
| Indiana | $38K | -19% | 1,900 |
| Missouri | $37K | -21% | 1,610 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -21% | 350 |
| Texas | $36K | -22% | 7,100 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -22% | 700 |
| Alabama | $36K | -24% | 920 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -24% | 560 |
| Louisiana | $35K | -25% | 880 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do opticians, dispensings make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $61,940 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,230, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $80,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,146/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 84% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a opticians, dispensing salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median opticians, dispensing salary is worth about $56,095 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do opticians, dispensings get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.