Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Birmingham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,910 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Birmingham earn between $35,750 and $43,040.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,310 | $3,359 | $19.38 |
| Median | $37,410 | $3,118 | $17.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,750 | $2,979 | $17.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,040 | $3,587 | $20.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Birmingham vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Birmingham earn 4% more than the Alabama average ($38,710) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $40,310 | $37,410 | $33,380 | $48,910 | 220 |
| Alabama | $38,710 | $36,880 | $31,000 | $47,720 | 880 |
| United States | $51,770 | $47,260 | $35,610 | $76,750 | 73,530 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Birmingham
On the average salary of $40,310, a single filer in Birmingham takes home about $32,926 a year, or $2,744 a month and $1,266 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Birmingham a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Birmingham area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.6), so the average $40,310 buys what about $43,985 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Birmingham ($47,770). A typical home costs $262,556, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Alabama cities
Birmingham ranks 3rd of 7 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($43,560).
- Huntsville$43,560
- Daphne$40,320
- Birmingham$40,310
- Montgomery$38,050
- Mobile$37,690
- Tuscaloosa$37,610
- Dothan$34,440
Highest-paying cities for opticians, dispensing
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($74,410).
- Bridgeport, CT$74,410
- Norwich, CT$72,040
- Waterbury, CT$70,540
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,420
- Syracuse, NY$70,310
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Opticians, Dispensing salary in Birmingham: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Birmingham?
$19.38 an hour on average, and $17.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Birmingham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Birmingham?
About $32,926 a year ($2,744 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,310. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Birmingham than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($51,770).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-2081; area Birmingham, AL (13820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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