Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $83,570 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Boston earn between $54,320 and $79,460.
- $49K10th
- $54K25th
- $64KMedian
- $79K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,940 | $5,578 | $32.18 |
| Median | $64,170 | $5,348 | $30.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,320 | $4,527 | $26.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,460 | $6,622 | $38.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($67,520) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +36% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $66,940 | $64,170 | $49,010 | $83,570 | 950 |
| Massachusetts | $67,520 | $67,210 | $48,850 | $83,550 | 1,360 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $66,940, a single filer in Boston takes home about $52,895 a year, or $4,408 a month and $2,034 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $55,922 | $4,660 |
| Working in MA | $52,895 | $4,408 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $66,940 buys what about $61,829 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 4th of 5 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Worcester pays the most ($67,850).
- Worcester$67,850
- Springfield$67,720
- Barnstable$67,620
- Boston$66,940
- Amherst$64,270
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 Boston: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Boston?
$32.18 an hour on average, and $30.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Boston?
About $52,895 a year ($4,408 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,940. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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