Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Wheeling
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,020 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Wheeling earn between $36,610 and $47,610.
- $33K10th
- $37K25th
- $40KMedian
- $48K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,950 | $3,579 | $20.65 |
| Median | $39,780 | $3,315 | $19.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,610 | $3,051 | $17.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,610 | $3,968 | $22.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Wheeling vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Wheeling earn 6% more than the West Virginia average ($40,470) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $42,950 | $39,780 | $33,370 | $59,020 | 40 |
| West Virginia | $40,470 | $38,120 | $31,250 | $52,370 | 350 |
| 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 Wheeling
On the average salary of $42,950, a single filer in Wheeling takes home about $35,544 a year, or $2,962 a month and $1,367 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Wheeling, WV-OH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in OH | $35,951 | $2,996 |
| Working in WV | $35,544 | $2,962 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wheeling a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wheeling area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.3), so the average $42,950 buys what about $48,628 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Wheeling ($44,250). A typical home costs $141,852, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other West Virginia cities
Wheeling ranks 1st of 5 West Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Wheeling$42,950
- Huntington$42,490
- Charleston$41,820
- Parkersburg$39,760
- Morgantown$39,310
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 Wheeling: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Wheeling?
$20.65 an hour on average, and $19.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Wheeling?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Wheeling?
About $35,544 a year ($2,962 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,950.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Wheeling than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Wheeling, WV-OH (48540). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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