Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,800 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Rochester earn between $39,390 and $61,030.
- $33K10th
- $39K25th
- $47KMedian
- $61K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,350 | $4,279 | $24.69 |
| Median | $47,460 | $3,955 | $22.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,390 | $3,282 | $18.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,030 | $5,086 | $29.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Rochester earn about the same as the Minnesota average ($50,370) and about the same as the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $51,350 | $47,460 | $33,470 | $74,800 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $50,370 | $48,020 | $36,920 | $67,490 | 1,490 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $51,350, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $41,471 a year, or $3,456 a month and $1,595 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 (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $51,350 buys what about $56,540 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 4 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($51,810).
- Minneapolis$51,810
- Rochester$51,350
- St. Cloud$47,700
- Duluth$46,120
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 Rochester: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Rochester?
$24.69 an hour on average, and $22.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Rochester?
About $41,471 a year ($3,456 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,350. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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