Opticians, Dispensing pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,830 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in San Luis Obispo earn between $47,050 and $74,560.
- $44K10th
- $47K25th
- $55KMedian
- $75K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,180 | $4,848 | $27.97 |
| Median | $55,380 | $4,615 | $26.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,050 | $3,921 | $22.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,560 | $6,213 | $35.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in San Luis Obispo earn 5% less than the California average ($61,070) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $58,180 | $55,380 | $44,240 | $78,830 | 40 |
| 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 San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $58,180, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $47,244 a year, or $3,937 a month and $1,817 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 San Luis Obispo a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $58,180 buys what about $53,575 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 15.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 17th 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
- San Luis Obispo$58,180
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 San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$27.97 an hour on average, and $26.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $47,244 a year ($3,937 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,180. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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