Opticians, Dispensing Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Opticians, Dispensing in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $49,300 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,279 take-home, or $3,357 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,736
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,057
- Medicare (1.45%)$715
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,514
- Take-home pay$40,279
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,900 | $18.22 | $31,469 | $2,622 |
| 25th percentile | $43,340 | $20.84 | $35,673 | $2,973 |
| Median (50th) | $49,300 | $23.70 | $40,279 | $3,357 |
| 75th percentile | $61,680 | $29.65 | $49,846 | $4,154 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,270 | $35.71 | $58,799 | $4,900 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,300 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $40,279 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,276 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 Philadelphia, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $49,300 | $40,279 | $39,276 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Opticians, Dispensing salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $46,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $49,300 a year, or about $23.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,340 and $61,680.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $49,300 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $40,279 a year ($3,357 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,514 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,276 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #23 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Radiologist — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $238,540
- Pediatricians, General — $226,440
- Dentists, General — $163,390
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $159,330
- Optometrist — $153,980
- Pharmacist — $148,740
- Veterinarian — $139,810
- Nurse Practitioner — $135,700