Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,670 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Detroit earn between $39,230 and $46,160.
- $36K10th
- $39K25th
- $44KMedian
- $46K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,380 | $3,698 | $21.34 |
| Median | $43,830 | $3,652 | $21.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,230 | $3,269 | $18.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,160 | $3,847 | $22.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Detroit earn about the same as the Michigan average ($43,530) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $44,380 | $43,830 | $35,610 | $53,670 | 1,470 |
| Michigan | $43,530 | $41,180 | $34,610 | $52,090 | 3,080 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $44,380, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $35,274 a year, or $2,939 a month and $1,357 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $44,380 buys what about $44,248 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 4th of 10 Michigan metro areas for this job; Ann Arbor pays the most ($47,540).
- Ann Arbor$47,540
- Traverse City$44,700
- Grand Rapids$44,680
- Detroit$44,380
- Lansing$43,490
- Kalamazoo$43,310
- Flint$41,130
- Niles$41,120
- Muskegon$40,060
- Saginaw$39,550
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 Detroit: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Detroit?
$21.34 an hour on average, and $21.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Detroit?
About $35,274 a year ($2,939 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,380. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.63, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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