Opticians, Dispensing pay range in St. Cloud
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,300 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in St. Cloud earn between $37,750 and $51,580.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $52K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,700 | $3,975 | $22.93 |
| Median | $45,210 | $3,768 | $21.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,750 | $3,146 | $18.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,580 | $4,298 | $24.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in St. Cloud vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in St. Cloud earn 5% less than the Minnesota average ($50,370) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | $47,700 | $45,210 | $36,920 | $75,300 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $50,370 | $48,020 | $36,920 | $67,490 | 1,490 |
| 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 St. Cloud
On the average salary of $47,700, a single filer in St. Cloud takes home about $38,774 a year, or $3,231 a month and $1,491 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is St. Cloud a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Cloud area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.6), so the average $47,700 buys what about $54,432 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Cloud ($50,840). A typical home costs $318,864, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Minnesota cities
St. Cloud ranks 3rd of 4 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($51,810).
- Minneapolis$51,810
- Rochester$51,350
- St. Cloud$47,700
- Duluth$46,120
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 St. Cloud: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in St. Cloud?
$22.93 an hour on average, and $21.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in St. Cloud?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in St. Cloud?
About $38,774 a year ($3,231 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,700. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in St. Cloud than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 St. Cloud, MN (41060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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