Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,270 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Philadelphia earn between $43,340 and $61,680.
- $38K10th
- $43K25th
- $49KMedian
- $62K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,620 | $4,468 | $25.78 |
| Median | $49,300 | $4,108 | $23.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $43,340 | $3,612 | $20.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,680 | $5,140 | $29.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Philadelphia earn 16% more than the Pennsylvania average ($46,330) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $53,620 | $49,300 | $37,900 | $74,270 | 1,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,330 | $45,450 | $36,160 | $58,450 | 2,230 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $53,620, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $43,618 a year, or $3,635 a month and $1,678 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $43,849 | $3,654 |
| Working in PA | $43,618 | $3,635 |
| Working in MD | $42,928 | $3,577 |
| Working in DE | $42,855 | $3,571 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $53,620 buys what about $52,285 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 12 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$53,620
- Allentown$50,680
- Lancaster$48,180
- Harrisburg$46,910
- York$46,670
- Pittsburgh$45,720
- State College$44,820
- Scranton$44,760
- Reading$43,610
- Lebanon$43,250
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Philadelphia?
$25.78 an hour on average, and $23.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $43,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $43,618 a year ($3,635 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,620. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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