Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Bakersfield
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,830 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Bakersfield earn between $45,050 and $64,500.
- $43K10th
- $45K25th
- $47KMedian
- $64K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,360 | $4,613 | $26.62 |
| Median | $46,970 | $3,914 | $22.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,050 | $3,754 | $21.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,500 | $5,375 | $31.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Bakersfield vs. California and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Bakersfield earn 9% less than the California average ($61,070) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $55,360 | $46,970 | $42,590 | $78,830 | 130 |
| California | $61,070 | $57,990 | $42,390 | $81,680 | 7,840 |
| 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 Bakersfield
On the average salary of $55,360, a single filer in Bakersfield takes home about $45,148 a year, or $3,762 a month and $1,736 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Bakersfield a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bakersfield area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $55,360 buys what about $54,874 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Bakersfield ($47,470). A typical home costs $364,264, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other California cities
Bakersfield ranks 20th of 21 California metro areas for this job; Santa Rosa pays the most ($70,420).
- Santa Rosa$70,420
- Vallejo$69,690
- San Jose$66,100
- San Francisco$65,260
- Sacramento$63,200
- Napa$63,080
- San Diego$62,200
- Stockton$61,670
- Santa Maria$60,530
- Bakersfield$55,360
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 Bakersfield: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Bakersfield?
$26.62 an hour on average, and $22.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Bakersfield?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Bakersfield?
About $45,148 a year ($3,762 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,360. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Bakersfield than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more 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 Bakersfield-Delano, CA (12540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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