Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Great Falls
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,000 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Great Falls earn between $39,420 and $50,580.
- $34K10th
- $39K25th
- $47KMedian
- $51K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,890 | $3,741 | $21.58 |
| Median | $47,120 | $3,927 | $22.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,420 | $3,285 | $18.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,580 | $4,215 | $24.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Great Falls vs. Montana and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Great Falls earn 9% less than the Montana average ($49,220) and 13% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $44,890 | $47,120 | $33,790 | $52,000 | 40 |
| 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 Great Falls
On the average salary of $44,890, a single filer in Great Falls takes home about $36,896 a year, or $3,075 a month and $1,419 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 Great Falls a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Great Falls area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.8), so the average $44,890 buys what about $46,352 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Great Falls ($46,510). A typical home costs $344,945, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Montana cities
Great Falls ranks 4th of 4 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($53,370).
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 Great Falls: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Great Falls?
$21.58 an hour on average, and $22.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Great Falls?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,420, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Great Falls?
About $36,896 a year ($3,075 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,890.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Great Falls than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Great Falls, MT (24500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 2.55, this job is 2.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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