Opticians, Dispensing Salary in Chicago, IL
Opticians, Dispensing in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $44,530 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,900 take-home, or $2,992 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,164
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$646
- Illinois income tax$2,059
- Take-home pay$35,900
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,530 | $18.04 | $30,622 | $2,552 |
| 25th percentile | $39,230 | $18.86 | $31,904 | $2,659 |
| Median (50th) | $44,530 | $21.41 | $35,900 | $2,992 |
| 75th percentile | $48,750 | $23.44 | $39,082 | $3,257 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,560 | $30.56 | $50,249 | $4,187 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,530 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $35,900 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,655 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Opticians, Dispensing jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $71,050 | $55,574 | $49,371 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,130 | $45,133 | $39,742 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $44,530 | $35,900 | $34,655 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
About the job: opticians, dispensing
Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in Chicago, IL?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $44,530 a year, or about $21.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,230 and $48,750.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $44,530 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $35,900 a year ($2,992 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,059 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,655 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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