Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,850 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Salem earn between $44,720 and $59,310.
- $40K10th
- $45K25th
- $48KMedian
- $59K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,370 | $4,448 | $25.66 |
| Median | $47,550 | $3,962 | $22.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,720 | $3,727 | $21.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,310 | $4,942 | $28.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Salem earn about the same as the Oregon average ($53,510) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $53,370 | $47,550 | $39,520 | $76,850 | 80 |
| Oregon | $53,510 | $49,210 | $39,480 | $76,750 | 1,000 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $53,370, a single filer in Salem takes home about $41,320 a year, or $3,443 a month and $1,589 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $53,370 buys what about $51,491 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 3rd of 6 Oregon metro areas for this job; Bend pays the most ($62,970).
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 Salem: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Salem?
$25.66 an hour on average, and $22.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Salem?
About $41,320 a year ($3,443 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,370. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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