Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Waterloo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,500 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Waterloo earn between $38,030 and $46,550.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $47K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,930 | $3,661 | $21.12 |
| Median | $44,930 | $3,744 | $21.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,030 | $3,169 | $18.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,550 | $3,879 | $22.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Waterloo
On the average salary of $43,930, a single filer in Waterloo takes home about $36,420 a year, or $3,035 a month and $1,401 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 Waterloo a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterloo area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $43,930 buys what about $50,461 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterloo ($47,430). A typical home costs $200,191, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Iowa cities
Waterloo ranks 6th 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 Waterloo: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Waterloo?
$21.12 an hour on average, and $21.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Waterloo?
About $36,420 a year ($3,035 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,930. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Waterloo than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (47940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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