Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,890 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Paducah earn between $35,840 and $58,690.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $59K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,650 | $3,721 | $21.47 |
| Median | $39,210 | $3,268 | $18.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,840 | $2,987 | $17.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,690 | $4,891 | $28.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Paducah
On the average salary of $44,650, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $35,718 a year, or $2,977 a month and $1,374 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $35,987 | $2,999 |
| Working in KY | $35,718 | $2,977 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $44,650 buys what about $51,868 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 3rd of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Lexington pays the most ($50,550).
- Lexington$50,550
- Elizabethtown$47,310
- Paducah$44,650
- Louisville$44,370
- Bowling Green$41,680
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 Paducah: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Paducah?
$21.47 an hour on average, and $18.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Paducah?
About $35,718 a year ($2,977 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,650. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). 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). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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