Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,700 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Amherst earn between $49,330 and $75,460.
- $48K10th
- $49K25th
- $65KMedian
- $75K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,270 | $5,356 | $30.90 |
| Median | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,330 | $4,111 | $23.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,460 | $6,288 | $36.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Amherst
On the average salary of $64,270, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $50,927 a year, or $4,244 a month and $1,959 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $64,270 buys what about $64,114 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 5th of 5 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Worcester pays the most ($67,850).
- Worcester$67,850
- Springfield$67,720
- Barnstable$67,620
- Boston$66,940
- Amherst$64,270
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 Amherst: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Amherst?
$30.90 an hour on average, and $31.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Amherst?
About $50,927 a year ($4,244 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,270. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% more 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.78, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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