Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,650 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Columbus earn between $36,060 and $56,320.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $56K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,640 | $3,803 | $21.94 |
| Median | $39,450 | $3,288 | $18.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,060 | $3,005 | $17.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,320 | $4,693 | $27.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Columbus
On the average salary of $45,640, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $37,323 a year, or $3,110 a month and $1,435 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Columbus, GA-AL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in GA | $37,323 | $3,110 |
| Working in AL | $36,975 | $3,081 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbus a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.3), so the average $45,640 buys what about $51,111 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($43,540). A typical home costs $209,527, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Georgia cities
Columbus ranks 9th of 10 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($56,350).
- Atlanta$56,350
- Savannah$51,210
- Athens$50,500
- Gainesville$50,050
- Augusta$49,520
- Macon$48,180
- Valdosta$47,440
- Warner Robins$46,190
- Columbus$45,640
- Albany$43,460
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 Columbus: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Columbus?
$21.94 an hour on average, and $18.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Columbus?
About $37,323 a year ($3,110 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,640.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Columbus, GA-AL (17980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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