Opticians, Dispensing pay range in McAllen
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,500 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in McAllen earn between $31,410 and $38,040.
- $26K10th
- $31K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,260 | $3,022 | $17.43 |
| Median | $34,860 | $2,905 | $16.76 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,410 | $2,618 | $15.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,040 | $3,170 | $18.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in McAllen vs. Texas and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in McAllen earn 15% less than the Texas average ($42,650) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | $36,260 | $34,860 | $25,520 | $45,500 | 120 |
| Texas | $42,650 | $38,720 | $29,970 | $58,240 | 6,700 |
| 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 McAllen
On the average salary of $36,260, a single filer in McAllen takes home about $31,315 a year, or $2,610 a month and $1,204 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is McAllen a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the McAllen area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $36,260 buys what about $42,214 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in McAllen ($35,830). A typical home costs $193,978, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Texas cities
McAllen ranks 22nd of 24 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($46,290).
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 McAllen: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in McAllen?
$17.43 an hour on average, and $16.76 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in McAllen?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $25,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in McAllen?
About $31,315 a year ($2,610 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,260. Texas has no state income tax.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in McAllen than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (32580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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