Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Watertown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,350 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Watertown earn between $60,520 and $73,230.
- $45K10th
- $61K25th
- $66KMedian
- $73K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,160 | $5,430 | $31.33 |
| Median | $65,870 | $5,489 | $31.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,520 | $5,043 | $29.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,230 | $6,102 | $35.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Watertown vs. New York and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Watertown earn about the same as the New York average ($64,830) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | $65,160 | $65,870 | $45,160 | $81,350 | 30 |
| New York | $64,830 | $63,880 | $43,060 | $81,200 | 3,520 |
| 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 Watertown
On the average salary of $65,160, a single filer in Watertown takes home about $51,557 a year, or $4,296 a month and $1,983 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Watertown a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Watertown area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $65,160 buys what about $74,307 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Watertown ($47,600). A typical home costs $230,401, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other New York cities
Watertown ranks 5th of 11 New York metro areas for this job; Syracuse pays the most ($70,310).
- Syracuse$70,310
- New York$67,940
- Kiryas Joel$65,600
- Albany$65,260
- Watertown$65,160
- Buffalo$64,330
- Utica$63,180
- Kingston$62,960
- Rochester$62,370
- Glens Falls$62,010
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 Watertown: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Watertown?
$31.33 an hour on average, and $31.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Watertown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Watertown?
About $51,557 a year ($4,296 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,160. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Watertown than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (48060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.67, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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