Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensing earn a median $47,260 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$47,260
$22.72 per hour
Range
$35,610 – $76,750
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
73,530
across the U.S.
Opticians, Dispensing take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$40,153
per year · effective tax rate 15.0%
$3,346Monthly
$1,673Twice a month
$1,544Every 2 weeks
$19.30Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,491
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,930
- Medicare (1.45%)$685
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,153
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,610 | $17.12 | $30,793 |
| 25th percentile | $38,820 | $18.66 | $33,372 |
| Median (50th) | $47,260 | $22.72 | $40,153 |
| 75th percentile | $61,700 | $29.66 | $51,756 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,750 | $36.90 | $62,824 |
Best cities for opticians, dispensing (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $71,050 | $55,574 | $49,371 | 3,460 |
| 2 | Orlando, FL | $59,120 | $49,683 | $48,988 | 680 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $64,170 | $50,752 | $46,877 | 950 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | $56,030 | $47,200 | $46,784 | 870 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $62,240 | $49,597 | $46,496 | 580 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $52,060 | $43,361 | $46,166 | 520 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $52,300 | $44,203 | $45,883 | 440 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $61,880 | $51,901 | $45,465 | 1,250 |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,730 | $42,329 | $44,384 | 570 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $50,730 | $42,329 | $44,338 | 590 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $59,520 | $47,582 | $43,700 | 1,080 |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $51,620 | $42,106 | $43,253 | 490 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $51,890 | $41,803 | $41,779 | 1,380 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $58,240 | $46,675 | $41,716 | 490 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $55,070 | $44,359 | $41,674 | 870 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $58,360 | $46,762 | $40,447 | 940 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,470 | $38,092 | $40,236 | 450 |
| 18 | Los Angeles, CA | $56,130 | $45,133 | $39,742 | 3,070 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,850 | $39,824 | $39,739 | 700 |
| 20 | Providence, RI | $48,940 | $40,285 | $39,583 | 450 |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $45,590 | $38,812 | $39,577 | 610 |
| 22 | Raleigh, NC | $47,090 | $38,647 | $39,372 | 480 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,300 | $40,279 | $39,276 | 1,070 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,530 | $40,169 | $38,880 | 990 |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $49,750 | $40,674 | $38,450 | 750 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $71,050
- Boston, MA — $64,170
- Sacramento, CA — $62,240
- Miami, FL — $61,880
- Washington, DC — $59,520
- Orlando, FL — $59,120
- San Francisco, CA — $58,360
- San Diego, CA — $58,240
- Los Angeles, CA — $56,130
- Tampa, FL — $56,030
- Riverside, CA — $55,070
- Nashville, TN — $52,300
- Cleveland, OH — $52,060
- Atlanta, GA — $51,890
- Charlotte, NC — $51,620
Opticians, Dispensing salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 | $59,237 | $48,700 – $85,070 | 610 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 | $57,611 | $41,080 – $80,910 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 | $57,350 | $47,110 – $85,020 | 2,010 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 | $52,972 | $48,850 – $83,550 | 1,360 |
| New York | $63,880 | $50,655 | $43,060 – $81,200 | 3,520 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 | $48,904 | $45,190 – $86,110 | 80 |
| Florida | $58,850 | $49,466 | $36,510 – $75,480 | 5,080 |
| Alaska | $58,250 | $48,984 | $38,940 – $75,760 | 90 |
| California | $57,990 | $46,492 | $42,390 – $81,680 | 7,840 |
| Vermont | $57,350 | $46,773 | $41,600 – $76,850 | 70 |
| Virginia | $55,820 | $44,636 | $36,360 – $77,460 | 1,860 |
| New Hampshire | $51,980 | $43,946 | $41,130 – $66,670 | 440 |
| Ohio | $50,500 | $42,150 | $35,830 – $65,280 | 2,960 |
| North Carolina | $50,190 | $41,014 | $36,500 – $81,340 | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $49,840 | $42,226 | $34,740 – $74,160 | 1,530 |
| Washington | $49,220 | $41,728 | $41,120 – $78,830 | 2,100 |
| Oregon | $49,210 | $38,244 | $39,480 – $76,750 | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $48,700 | $39,361 | $37,100 – $64,830 | 1,060 |
| Arizona | $48,210 | $39,920 | $39,890 – $75,300 | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,020 | $39,014 | $36,920 – $67,490 | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48,010 | $38,887 | $36,800 – $74,120 | 2,290 |
| South Carolina | $48,000 | $39,025 | $36,240 – $73,890 | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 | $39,105 | $38,480 – $77,130 | 350 |
| Colorado | $47,310 | $38,820 | $38,900 – $66,160 | 1,520 |
| Maine | $47,220 | $38,116 | $39,110 – $60,190 | 350 |
| Montana | $47,050 | $38,530 | $36,240 – $64,730 | 330 |
| Nevada | $46,910 | $39,872 | $38,090 – $84,660 | 960 |
| Delaware | $46,220 | $37,429 | $31,200 – $60,790 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,450 | $37,304 | $36,160 – $58,450 | 2,230 |
| North Dakota | $45,230 | $38,522 | $37,220 – $56,100 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $44,820 | $37,002 | $36,680 – $60,320 | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $44,480 | $36,881 | $37,270 – $53,790 | 920 |
| Kentucky | $44,290 | $36,334 | $30,190 – $65,130 | 950 |
| Illinois | $43,960 | $35,471 | $37,080 – $62,830 | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $43,950 | $36,273 | $34,730 – $75,300 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $43,400 | $37,052 | $32,390 – $49,730 | 430 |
| Arkansas | $42,880 | $35,174 | $30,100 – $73,890 | 690 |
| Utah | $41,780 | $34,836 | $35,680 – $76,750 | 700 |
| Michigan | $41,180 | $33,769 | $34,610 – $52,090 | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $40,140 | $32,992 | $36,050 – $48,480 | 630 |
| Nebraska | $39,830 | $33,251 | $35,800 – $52,670 | 870 |
| Indiana | $39,370 | $32,682 | $31,930 – $49,960 | 2,010 |
| Wyoming | $39,100 | $33,597 | $33,110 – $53,840 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $39,090 | $32,875 | $31,010 – $72,920 | 340 |
| Missouri | $38,750 | $32,432 | $34,110 – $54,810 | 1,600 |
| Texas | $38,720 | $33,292 | $29,970 – $58,240 | 6,700 |
| West Virginia | $38,120 | $31,773 | $31,250 – $52,370 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $37,940 | $31,503 | $29,530 – $54,310 | 730 |
| Alabama | $36,880 | $30,234 | $31,000 – $47,720 | 880 |
| Mississippi | $36,680 | $30,917 | $28,180 – $47,210 | 560 |
| Louisiana | $36,360 | $30,691 | $28,840 – $46,870 | 720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make?
The national median salary for opticians, dispensing is $47,260 a year ($22.72 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,610 and the top 10% earn over $76,750. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays opticians, dispensing the most?
Connecticut has the highest median pay at $75,300. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many opticians, dispensing are there in the U.S.?
About 73,530 people work as opticians, dispensing nationwide.
All 37 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC