Opticians, Dispensing Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Opticians, Dispensing in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $56,130 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,133 take-home, or $3,761 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,556
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,480
- Medicare (1.45%)$814
- California income tax$1,417
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$730
- Take-home pay$45,133
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,570 | $19.50 | $33,638 | $2,803 |
| 25th percentile | $47,000 | $22.60 | $38,464 | $3,205 |
| Median (50th) | $56,130 | $26.99 | $45,133 | $3,761 |
| 75th percentile | $72,380 | $34.80 | $56,230 | $4,686 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,920 | $39.38 | $62,007 | $5,167 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,130 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $45,133 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,742 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $56,130 a year, or about $26.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,000 and $72,380.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $56,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $45,133 a year ($3,761 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,147 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,742 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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