Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Johnson City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,360 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Johnson City earn between $35,680 and $65,240.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $51KMedian
- $65K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,240 | $4,353 | $25.12 |
| Median | $51,010 | $4,251 | $24.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,680 | $2,973 | $17.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,240 | $5,437 | $31.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Johnson City vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Johnson City earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($51,920) and about the same as the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City | $52,240 | $51,010 | $35,260 | $72,360 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $51,920 | $49,840 | $34,740 | $74,160 | 1,530 |
| 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 Johnson City
On the average salary of $52,240, a single filer in Johnson City takes home about $44,155 a year, or $3,680 a month and $1,698 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Johnson City a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Johnson City area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.9), so the average $52,240 buys what about $59,412 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Johnson City ($43,480). A typical home costs $282,532, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Tennessee cities
Johnson City ranks 2nd of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($54,980).
- Nashville$54,980
- Johnson City$52,240
- Knoxville$51,920
- Morristown$51,220
- Clarksville$50,300
- Chattanooga$49,920
- Memphis$49,320
- Jackson$48,140
- Kingsport$44,860
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 Johnson City: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Johnson City?
$25.12 an hour on average, and $24.53 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Johnson City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Johnson City?
About $44,155 a year ($3,680 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,240. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Johnson City 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 Johnson City, TN (27740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.56, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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