Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,850 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Nashville earn between $40,290 and $65,720.
- $38K10th
- $40K25th
- $52KMedian
- $66K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,980 | $4,582 | $26.43 |
| Median | $52,300 | $4,358 | $25.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,290 | $3,358 | $19.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,720 | $5,477 | $31.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Nashville earn 6% more than the Tennessee average ($51,920) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $54,980 | $52,300 | $37,590 | $76,850 | 440 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $54,980, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $46,356 a year, or $3,863 a month and $1,783 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $54,980 buys what about $57,070 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Nashville: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Nashville?
$26.43 an hour on average, and $25.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Nashville?
About $46,356 a year ($3,863 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,980. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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