Opticians, Dispensing Salary in Riverside, CA
Opticians, Dispensing in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $55,070 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,359 take-home, or $3,697 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,428
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,414
- Medicare (1.45%)$799
- California income tax$1,354
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$716
- Take-home pay$44,359
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,050 | $20.22 | $34,749 | $2,896 |
| 25th percentile | $45,580 | $21.91 | $37,398 | $3,117 |
| Median (50th) | $55,070 | $26.48 | $44,359 | $3,697 |
| 75th percentile | $75,680 | $36.38 | $58,245 | $4,854 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,090 | $38.02 | $60,316 | $5,026 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,070 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $44,359 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,674 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $55,070 | $44,359 | $41,674 |
*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 California
- Sacramento, CA — $62,240
- San Diego, CA — $58,240
- San Francisco, CA — $58,360
- Los Angeles, CA — $56,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in Riverside, CA?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $55,070 a year, or about $26.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,580 and $75,680.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $55,070 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $44,359 a year ($3,697 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,070 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,674 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560