Opticians, Dispensing Salary in San Diego, CA
Opticians, Dispensing in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $58,240 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,675 take-home, or $3,890 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,809
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,611
- Medicare (1.45%)$844
- California income tax$1,544
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$757
- Take-home pay$46,675
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,640 | $21.94 | $37,443 | $3,120 |
| 25th percentile | $48,720 | $23.42 | $39,720 | $3,310 |
| Median (50th) | $58,240 | $28.00 | $46,675 | $3,890 |
| 75th percentile | $77,460 | $37.24 | $59,331 | $4,944 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,240 | $38.58 | $61,003 | $5,084 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,240 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $46,675 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,716 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 San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $58,240 | $46,675 | $41,716 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $55,070
- San Francisco, CA — $58,360
- Los Angeles, CA — $56,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in San Diego, CA?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $58,240 a year, or about $28.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,720 and $77,460.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $58,240 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $46,675 a year ($3,890 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,301 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,716 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #14 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790