Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,420 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Durham earn between $42,640 and $75,920.
- $37K10th
- $43K25th
- $58KMedian
- $76K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,240 | $5,020 | $28.96 |
| Median | $58,310 | $4,859 | $28.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,640 | $3,553 | $20.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,920 | $6,327 | $36.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Durham earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($55,810) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $60,240 | $58,310 | $37,320 | $84,420 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $55,810 | $50,190 | $36,500 | $81,340 | 2,020 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $60,240, a single filer in Durham takes home about $48,688 a year, or $4,057 a month and $1,873 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).
Is Durham a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $60,240 buys what about $61,739 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 11 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$60,240
- Fayetteville$58,900
- Greensboro$58,750
- Charlotte$58,320
- Winston-Salem$56,790
- Burlington$56,680
- Jacksonville$56,150
- Raleigh$54,950
- Asheville$54,840
- Wilmington$52,140
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 Durham: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Durham?
$28.96 an hour on average, and $28.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Durham?
About $48,688 a year ($4,057 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,240.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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