Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,560 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Chicago earn between $39,230 and $48,750.
- $38K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $49K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,180 | $3,932 | $22.68 |
| Median | $44,530 | $3,711 | $21.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,230 | $3,269 | $18.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,750 | $4,062 | $23.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $47,180, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $37,895 a year, or $3,158 a month and $1,457 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $38,704 | $3,225 |
| Working in IL | $37,895 | $3,158 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $47,180 buys what about $45,543 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$47,180
- Springfield$44,680
- Rockford$44,370
- Champaign$43,970
- Peoria$42,930
- Bloomington$42,100
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 Chicago: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Chicago?
$22.68 an hour on average, and $21.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Chicago?
About $37,895 a year ($3,158 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,180.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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