Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,660 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Fargo earn between $38,040 and $51,120.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $51K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,250 | $3,854 | $22.24 |
| Median | $45,040 | $3,753 | $21.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,040 | $3,170 | $18.29 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,120 | $4,260 | $24.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Fargo earn about the same as the North Dakota average ($45,640) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $46,250 | $45,040 | $37,220 | $64,660 | 80 |
| North Dakota | $45,640 | $45,230 | $37,220 | $56,100 | 230 |
| 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 Fargo
On the average salary of $46,250, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $39,342 a year, or $3,278 a month and $1,513 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $39,342 | $3,278 |
| Working in MN | $37,686 | $3,141 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $46,250 buys what about $50,896 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 2nd of 3 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Bismarck pays the most ($46,960).
- Bismarck$46,960
- Fargo$46,250
- Grand Forks$44,310
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 Fargo: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Fargo?
$22.23 an hour on average, and $21.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Fargo?
About $39,342 a year ($3,278 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,250.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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