Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,680 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Rochester earn between $50,750 and $68,520.
- $45K10th
- $51K25th
- $62KMedian
- $69K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,370 | $5,198 | $29.99 |
| Median | $62,230 | $5,186 | $29.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,750 | $4,229 | $24.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,520 | $5,710 | $32.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Rochester earn 4% less than the New York average ($64,830) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $62,370 | $62,230 | $45,210 | $78,680 | 240 |
| New York | $64,830 | $63,880 | $43,060 | $81,200 | 3,520 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $62,370, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $49,469 a year, or $4,122 a month and $1,903 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $62,370 buys what about $64,276 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 9th of 11 New York metro areas for this job; Syracuse pays the most ($70,310).
- Syracuse$70,310
- New York$67,940
- Kiryas Joel$65,600
- Albany$65,260
- Watertown$65,160
- Buffalo$64,330
- Utica$63,180
- Kingston$62,960
- Rochester$62,370
- Glens Falls$62,010
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 Rochester: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Rochester?
$29.99 an hour on average, and $29.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Rochester?
About $49,469 a year ($4,122 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,370. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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