Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Ames
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,670 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Ames earn between $39,170 and $46,680.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $41KMedian
- $47K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,350 | $3,612 | $20.84 |
| Median | $40,860 | $3,405 | $19.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,170 | $3,264 | $18.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,680 | $3,890 | $22.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Ames vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Ames earn about the same as the Iowa average ($44,570) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $43,350 | $40,860 | $36,650 | $50,670 | 40 |
| Iowa | $44,570 | $44,480 | $37,270 | $53,790 | 920 |
| 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 Ames
On the average salary of $43,350, a single filer in Ames takes home about $35,976 a year, or $2,998 a month and $1,384 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Ames a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ames area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $43,350 buys what about $48,801 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Ames ($50,220). A typical home costs $280,269, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Iowa cities
Ames ranks 7th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Iowa City pays the most ($49,800).
- Iowa City$49,800
- Des Moines$46,550
- Dubuque$46,130
- Davenport$44,340
- Cedar Rapids$44,000
- Waterloo$43,930
- Ames$43,350
- Sioux City$42,200
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 Ames: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Ames?
$20.84 an hour on average, and $19.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Ames?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Ames?
About $35,976 a year ($2,998 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,350. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Ames than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Ames, IA (11180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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