SOC 29-2081 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · May 2025

How much do Opticians, Dispensing make in Columbus, GA-AL?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Columbus, GA-AL is $39,450. The 10th percentile is $31,710 and the 90th percentile is $63,650. Employment is 70.

Median annual wage

$39,450

10th percentile
$31,710
25th percentile
$36,060
Median
$39,450
75th percentile
$56,320
90th percentile
$63,650
Mean
$45,640

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

A dental hygienist treating a patient
A dental hygienist at work. Photograph by baskyes. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Percentile spread

For Opticians, Dispensing, the published 10th percentile is $31,710 and the 90th percentile is $63,650. The difference is $31,940, which is 81.0% 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 $36,060 to the 75th at $56,320, covers $20,260.

The mean annual wage is $45,640, which sits above the median of $39,450. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Columbus, GA-AL median is 16.5% lower than the national median of $47,260 for Opticians, Dispensing. In 2024 national prices the local median is $44,179, which is 6.5% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 17.8% lower than the Georgia median of $48,010.

Columbus, GA-AL covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Georgia, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Columbus, GA-AL is 89.296, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $39,450 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Opticians, Dispensing at $44,179 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. Columbus, GA-AL ranks 14th 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).).

  • Warner Robins, GA is 66 miles away, with a median of $44,870 and employment of 40. That median is 13.7% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $47,841, against $44,179 here.
  • Albany, GA is 69 miles away, with a median of $39,670 and employment of 40. That median is 0.6% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $45,250, against $44,179 here.
  • Macon-Bibb County, GA is 72 miles away, with a median of $44,810 and employment of 30. That median is 13.6% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $50,617, against $44,179 here.

Employment share

Opticians, Dispensing accounts for 0.06% of wage-and-salary employment in Columbus, GA-AL (70 of 116,380). Nationally the occupation is 0.05% of employment (73,530 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.27 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 Columbus, GA-AL · 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 Columbus, GA-AL?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Columbus, GA-AL is $39,450. The 10th percentile is $31,710 and the 90th percentile is $63,650. Employment is 70.

How does that compare with the national median for Opticians, Dispensing?

The local median is 16.5% lower than the national median of $47,260.

What is Opticians, Dispensing pay in Columbus, GA-AL after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Columbus, GA-AL is 89.296, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $39,450 is $44,179. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Columbus, GA-AL compare with nearby metros for Opticians, Dispensing?

Warner Robins, GA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 66 miles away, at $44,870. Columbus, GA-AL ranks 14th of 19 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.