Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Jefferson City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,760 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Jefferson City earn between $35,680 and $65,760.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $43KMedian
- $66K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,550 | $3,879 | $22.38 |
| Median | $43,440 | $3,620 | $20.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,680 | $2,973 | $17.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,760 | $5,480 | $31.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Jefferson City
On the average salary of $46,550, a single filer in Jefferson City takes home about $38,332 a year, or $3,194 a month and $1,474 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Jefferson City a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jefferson City area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.0), so the average $46,550 buys what about $52,913 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Jefferson City ($48,030). A typical home costs $275,951, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Missouri cities
Jefferson City ranks 2nd of 8 Missouri metro areas for this job; Kansas City pays the most ($47,110).
- Kansas City$47,110
- Jefferson City$46,550
- St. Louis$44,940
- Springfield$44,810
- St. Joseph$41,820
- Joplin$39,640
- Columbia$39,560
- Cape Girardeau$38,270
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 Jefferson City: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Jefferson City?
$22.38 an hour on average, and $20.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Jefferson City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Jefferson City?
About $38,332 a year ($3,194 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,550. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Jefferson City than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Jefferson City, MO (27620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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