Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Billings
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,610 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Billings earn between $40,900 and $54,150.
- $36K10th
- $41K25th
- $46KMedian
- $54K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,940 | $4,078 | $23.53 |
| Median | $46,260 | $3,855 | $22.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,900 | $3,408 | $19.66 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,150 | $4,512 | $26.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Billings vs. Montana and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Billings earn about the same as the Montana average ($49,220) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $48,940 | $46,260 | $36,380 | $64,610 | 90 |
| Montana | $49,220 | $47,050 | $36,240 | $64,730 | 330 |
| 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 Billings
On the average salary of $48,940, a single filer in Billings takes home about $39,960 a year, or $3,330 a month and $1,537 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 (2026 rules).
Is Billings a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Billings area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.5), so the average $48,940 buys what about $52,328 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Billings ($49,060). A typical home costs $410,666, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Montana cities
Billings ranks 3rd of 4 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($53,370).
- Bozeman$53,370
- Missoula$49,750
- Billings$48,940
- Great Falls$44,890
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 Billings: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Billings?
$23.53 an hour on average, and $22.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Billings?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Billings?
About $39,960 a year ($3,330 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,940.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Billings than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Billings, MT (13740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 2.01, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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