Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,020 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Tuscaloosa earn between $35,020 and $38,810.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,610 | $3,134 | $18.08 |
| Median | $36,500 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,020 | $2,918 | $16.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,810 | $3,234 | $18.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $37,610, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $30,876 a year, or $2,573 a month and $1,188 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $37,610 buys what about $42,874 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 6th of 7 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($43,560).
- Huntsville$43,560
- Daphne$40,320
- Birmingham$40,310
- Montgomery$38,050
- Mobile$37,690
- Tuscaloosa$37,610
- Dothan$34,440
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 Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$18.08 an hour on average, and $17.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $30,876 a year ($2,573 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,610. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($52,330).
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 Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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