Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Dubuque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,200 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Dubuque earn between $39,210 and $47,240.
- $38K10th
- $39K25th
- $46KMedian
- $47K75th
- $56K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,130 | $3,844 | $22.18 |
| Median | $45,560 | $3,797 | $21.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,210 | $3,268 | $18.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,240 | $3,937 | $22.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Dubuque
On the average salary of $46,130, a single filer in Dubuque takes home about $38,104 a year, or $3,175 a month and $1,466 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Dubuque a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Dubuque area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.3), so the average $46,130 buys what about $52,824 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Dubuque ($48,750). A typical home costs $279,463, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Iowa cities
Dubuque ranks 3rd of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Iowa City pays the most ($49,800).
- Iowa City$49,800
- Des Moines$46,550
- Dubuque$46,130
- Davenport$44,340
- Cedar Rapids$44,000
- Waterloo$43,930
- Ames$43,350
- Sioux City$42,200
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 Dubuque: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Dubuque?
$22.18 an hour on average, and $21.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Dubuque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Dubuque?
About $38,104 a year ($3,175 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,130. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Dubuque than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Dubuque, IA (20220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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