Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,790 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Lafayette earn between $29,050 and $41,360.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $41K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,350 | $3,196 | $18.44 |
| Median | $34,300 | $2,858 | $16.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,050 | $2,421 | $13.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,360 | $3,447 | $19.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Lafayette earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($37,840) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -27% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $38,350 | $34,300 | $28,310 | $47,790 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $37,840 | $36,360 | $28,840 | $46,870 | 720 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $38,350, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $32,230 a year, or $2,686 a month and $1,240 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $38,350 buys what about $43,975 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 4th of 9 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Slidell pays the most ($40,610).
- Slidell$40,610
- New Orleans$39,400
- Baton Rouge$38,540
- Lafayette$38,350
- Lake Charles$37,140
- Houma$36,720
- Shreveport$36,620
- Monroe$35,280
- Alexandria$33,820
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Lafayette?
$18.44 an hour on average, and $16.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $32,230 a year ($2,686 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,350.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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