Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,600 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Baltimore earn between $42,790 and $56,520.
- $36K10th
- $43K25th
- $48KMedian
- $57K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,300 | $4,192 | $24.18 |
| Median | $48,320 | $4,027 | $23.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,790 | $3,566 | $20.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,520 | $4,710 | $27.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Baltimore earn about the same as the Maryland average ($51,270) and about the same as the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $50,300 | $48,320 | $36,380 | $62,600 | 500 |
| Maryland | $51,270 | $48,700 | $37,100 | $64,830 | 1,060 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $50,300, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $40,418 a year, or $3,368 a month and $1,555 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). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $50,300 buys what about $48,140 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Maryland cities
Baltimore ranks 1st of 3 Maryland metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Baltimore$50,300
- Salisbury$45,660
- Hagerstown$44,340
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Baltimore?
$24.19 an hour on average, and $23.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $40,418 a year ($3,368 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,300. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Baltimore 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). 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). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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