Opticians, Dispensing Salary in Boston, MA
Opticians, Dispensing in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $64,170 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,752 take-home, or $4,229 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,520
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,979
- Medicare (1.45%)$930
- Massachusetts income tax$2,989
- Take-home pay$50,752
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,010 | $23.56 | $39,329 | $3,277 |
| 25th percentile | $54,320 | $26.12 | $43,330 | $3,611 |
| Median (50th) | $64,170 | $30.85 | $50,752 | $4,229 |
| 75th percentile | $79,460 | $38.20 | $60,977 | $5,081 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,570 | $40.18 | $63,663 | $5,305 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $64,170 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $50,752 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,877 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 less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 of 37 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 | Orlando, FL | $59,120 | $49,683 | $48,988 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $64,170 | $50,752 | $46,877 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | $56,030 | $47,200 | $46,784 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $62,240 | $49,597 | $46,496 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $52,060 | $43,361 | $46,166 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $52,300 | $44,203 | $45,883 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $61,880 | $51,901 | $45,465 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in Boston, MA?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $64,170 a year, or about $30.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,320 and $79,460.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $64,170 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $50,752 a year ($4,229 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,989 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,877 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Surgeons, All Other — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $235,460
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Pediatricians, General — $221,170
- Dentists, General — $181,150
- Optometrist — $154,970
- Nurse Practitioner — $147,480
- Physician Assistant — $142,410