Opticians, Dispensing Salary in San Francisco, CA
Opticians, Dispensing in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $58,360 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,762 take-home, or $3,897 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median opticians, dispensing salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,823
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,618
- Medicare (1.45%)$846
- California income tax$1,551
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$759
- Take-home pay$46,762
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Opticians, Dispensing pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,580 | $18.07 | $31,394 | $2,616 |
| 25th percentile | $51,830 | $24.92 | $41,992 | $3,499 |
| Median (50th) | $58,360 | $28.06 | $46,762 | $3,897 |
| 75th percentile | $79,630 | $38.28 | $60,639 | $5,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,410 | $45.39 | $69,470 | $5,789 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,360 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median opticians, dispensing's $46,762 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,447 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 San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for opticians, dispensing, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $58,360 | $46,762 | $40,447 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $55,070
- Los Angeles, CA — $56,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in San Francisco, CA?
The median opticians, dispensing salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $58,360 a year, or about $28.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,830 and $79,630.
What is a opticians, dispensing’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $58,360 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $46,762 a year ($3,897 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,310 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a opticians, dispensing?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $47,260. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,447 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #16 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a opticians, dispensing afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median opticians, dispensing’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
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- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $219,080
- Veterinarian — $208,080
- Pediatricians, General — $207,450
- Dentists, General — $202,060
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Physician Assistant — $184,380
- Pharmacist — $177,410
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $160,270
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