Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,280 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Hickory earn between $35,510 and $67,630.
- $36K10th
- $36K25th
- $41KMedian
- $68K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,640 | $4,220 | $24.35 |
| Median | $40,910 | $3,409 | $19.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,510 | $2,959 | $17.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,630 | $5,636 | $32.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Hickory earn 9% less than the North Carolina average ($55,810) and about the same as the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $50,640 | $40,910 | $35,510 | $79,280 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $55,810 | $50,190 | $36,500 | $81,340 | 2,020 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $50,640, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $41,357 a year, or $3,446 a month and $1,591 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 Hickory a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $50,640 buys what about $57,229 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 11th of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($60,240).
- Durham$60,240
- Fayetteville$58,900
- Greensboro$58,750
- Charlotte$58,320
- Winston-Salem$56,790
- Burlington$56,680
- Jacksonville$56,150
- Raleigh$54,950
- Asheville$54,840
- Hickory$50,640
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 Hickory: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Hickory?
$24.35 an hour on average, and $19.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Hickory?
About $41,357 a year ($3,446 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,640.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Hickory 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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