Opticians, Dispensing pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,700 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in South Bend earn between $35,610 and $44,980.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,440 | $3,453 | $19.92 |
| Median | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,610 | $2,968 | $17.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,980 | $3,748 | $21.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in South Bend earn about the same as the Indiana average ($41,390) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $41,440 | $38,000 | $32,440 | $49,700 | 80 |
| Indiana | $41,390 | $39,370 | $31,930 | $49,960 | 2,010 |
| 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 South Bend
On the average salary of $41,440, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $33,556 a year, or $2,796 a month and $1,291 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MI | $33,962 | $2,830 |
| Working in IN | $33,556 | $2,796 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Is South Bend a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the South Bend area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $41,440 buys what about $44,627 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in South Bend ($46,540). A typical home costs $238,866, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 4th of 11 Indiana metro areas for this job; Fort Wayne pays the most ($43,280).
- Fort Wayne$43,280
- Indianapolis$42,330
- Elkhart$41,530
- South Bend$41,440
- Bloomington$41,010
- Lafayette$40,360
- Kokomo$40,040
- Muncie$39,680
- Michigan City$39,600
- Terre Haute$39,470
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 South Bend: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in South Bend?
$19.92 an hour on average, and $18.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in South Bend?
About $33,556 a year ($2,796 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,440. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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