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

How much do Opticians, Dispensing make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $49,750. The 10th percentile is $40,930 and the 90th percentile is $76,750. Employment is 750.

Median annual wage

$49,750

10th percentile
$40,930
25th percentile
$45,850
Median
$49,750
75th percentile
$60,100
90th percentile
$76,750
Mean
$54,460

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

A public high school teacher standing in a classroom in the United States
A public high school classroom in the United States. Photograph by Harrison Keely. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Percentile spread

For Opticians, Dispensing, the published 10th percentile is $40,930 and the 90th percentile is $76,750. The difference is $35,820, which is 72.0% 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 $45,850 to the 75th at $60,100, covers $14,250.

The mean annual wage is $54,460, which sits above the median of $49,750. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO median is 5.3% higher than the national median of $47,260 for Opticians, Dispensing. In 2024 national prices the local median is $47,031, which is 0.5% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 5.2% higher than the Colorado median of $47,310.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is 105.782, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $49,750 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Opticians, Dispensing at $47,031 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

6 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Opticians, Dispensing. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ranks 2nd of 7 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).).

  • Colorado Springs, CO is 43 miles away, with a median of $45,240 and employment of 190. That median is 9.1% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $44,922, against $47,031 here.
  • Boulder, CO is 53 miles away, with a median of $50,840 and employment of 120. That median is 2.2% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $48,326, against $47,031 here.
  • Greeley, CO is 82 miles away, with a median of $46,440 and employment of 40. That median is 6.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $46,358, against $47,031 here.

Employment share

Opticians, Dispensing accounts for 0.05% of wage-and-salary employment in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (750 of 1,609,350). Nationally the occupation is 0.05% of employment (73,530 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.99 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO · 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Opticians, Dispensing in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $49,750. The 10th percentile is $40,930 and the 90th percentile is $76,750. Employment is 750.

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

The local median is 5.3% higher than the national median of $47,260.

What is Opticians, Dispensing pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is 105.782, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $49,750 is $47,031. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO compare with nearby metros for Opticians, Dispensing?

Colorado Springs, CO is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 43 miles away, at $45,240. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ranks 2nd of 7 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.