Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,220 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Appleton earn between $38,060 and $49,000.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $49K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,380 | $3,865 | $22.30 |
| Median | $43,620 | $3,635 | $20.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,060 | $3,172 | $18.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,000 | $4,083 | $23.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Appleton earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($46,000) and 10% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $46,380 | $43,620 | $36,250 | $75,220 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $46,000 | $44,820 | $36,680 | $60,320 | 1,430 |
| 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 Appleton
On the average salary of $46,380, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $38,048 a year, or $3,171 a month and $1,463 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $46,380 buys what about $50,184 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 5th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($48,490).
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 Appleton: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Appleton?
$22.30 an hour on average, and $20.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Appleton?
About $38,048 a year ($3,171 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,380.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less 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 Appleton, WI (11540). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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