Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Reading
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,660 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Reading earn between $38,180 and $47,960.
- $30K10th
- $38K25th
- $42KMedian
- $48K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,610 | $3,634 | $20.97 |
| Median | $42,470 | $3,539 | $20.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,180 | $3,182 | $18.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,960 | $3,997 | $23.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Reading
On the average salary of $43,610, a single filer in Reading takes home about $35,882 a year, or $2,990 a month and $1,380 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Reading a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $43,610 buys what about $44,931 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Reading ranks 9th of 12 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($53,620).
- Philadelphia$53,620
- Allentown$50,680
- Lancaster$48,180
- Harrisburg$46,910
- York$46,670
- Pittsburgh$45,720
- State College$44,820
- Scranton$44,760
- Reading$43,610
- Lebanon$43,250
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 Reading: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Reading?
$20.97 an hour on average, and $20.42 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Reading?
About $35,882 a year ($2,990 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,610. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Reading than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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