Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Roanoke
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,030 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Roanoke earn between $46,440 and $60,670.
- $36K10th
- $46K25th
- $53KMedian
- $61K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,900 | $4,408 | $25.43 |
| Median | $52,650 | $4,388 | $25.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,440 | $3,870 | $22.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,670 | $5,056 | $29.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Roanoke vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Roanoke earn 4% less than the Virginia average ($55,110) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $52,900 | $52,650 | $36,010 | $66,030 | 90 |
| Virginia | $55,110 | $55,820 | $36,360 | $77,460 | 1,860 |
| 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 Roanoke
On the average salary of $52,900, a single filer in Roanoke takes home about $42,458 a year, or $3,538 a month and $1,633 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Roanoke a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Roanoke area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $52,900 buys what about $56,506 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Roanoke ($47,140). A typical home costs $301,139, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Virginia cities
Roanoke ranks 6th of 7 Virginia metro areas for this job; Harrisonburg pays the most ($59,730).
- Harrisonburg$59,730
- Winchester$58,500
- Charlottesville$56,510
- Richmond$53,960
- Virginia Beach$53,690
- Roanoke$52,900
- Lynchburg$51,950
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 Roanoke: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Roanoke?
$25.43 an hour on average, and $25.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Roanoke?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Roanoke?
About $42,458 a year ($3,538 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,900.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Roanoke 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 Roanoke, VA (40220). 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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