Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,750 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Albuquerque earn between $36,360 and $48,550.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $49K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,460 | $3,788 | $21.86 |
| Median | $39,230 | $3,269 | $18.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,360 | $3,030 | $17.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,550 | $4,046 | $23.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Albuquerque
On the average salary of $45,460, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $37,720 a year, or $3,143 a month and $1,451 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).
Is Albuquerque a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $45,460 buys what about $47,579 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 2nd of 2 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($45,850).
- Santa Fe$45,850
- Albuquerque$45,460
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Opticians, Dispensing salary in Albuquerque: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Albuquerque?
$21.86 an hour on average, and $18.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $37,720 a year ($3,143 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,460.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.