SOC 29-2081 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · May 2025
How much do Opticians, Dispensing make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $64,170. The 10th percentile is $49,010 and the 90th percentile is $83,570. Employment is 950.
Median annual wage
$64,170
- 10th percentile
- $49,010
- 25th percentile
- $54,320
- Median
- $64,170
- 75th percentile
- $79,460
- 90th percentile
- $83,570
- Mean
- $66,940
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Opticians, Dispensing, the published 10th percentile is $49,010 and the 90th percentile is $83,570. The difference is $34,560, which is 53.9% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $54,320 to the 75th at $79,460, covers $25,140.
The mean annual wage is $66,940, which sits above the median of $64,170. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH median is 35.8% higher than the national median of $47,260 for Opticians, Dispensing. In 2024 national prices the local median is $59,271, which is 25.4% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 4.5% lower than the Massachusetts median of $67,210.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Massachusetts, the primary state on the BLS area record.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.266, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $64,170 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Opticians, Dispensing at $59,271 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
18 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Opticians, Dispensing. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ranks 12th of 19 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Manchester-Nashua, NH is 45 miles away, with a median of $57,180 and employment of 180. That median is 10.9% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $54,119, against $59,271 here.
- Worcester, MA is 49 miles away, with a median of $67,630 and employment of 160. That median is 5.4% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $65,966, against $59,271 here.
- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is 58 miles away, with a median of $48,940 and employment of 450. That median is 23.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $48,087, against $59,271 here.
Employment share
Opticians, Dispensing accounts for 0.04% of wage-and-salary employment in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (950 of 2,703,890). Nationally the occupation is 0.05% of employment (73,530 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.74 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Opticians, Dispensing by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Opticians, Dispensing make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $64,170. The 10th percentile is $49,010 and the 90th percentile is $83,570. Employment is 950.
How does that compare with the national median for Opticians, Dispensing?
The local median is 35.8% higher than the national median of $47,260.
What is Opticians, Dispensing pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.266, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $64,170 is $59,271. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH compare with nearby metros for Opticians, Dispensing?
Manchester-Nashua, NH is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 45 miles away, at $57,180. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ranks 12th of 19 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.