Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,730 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Knoxville earn between $37,580 and $61,070.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $49KMedian
- $61K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,920 | $4,327 | $24.96 |
| Median | $49,050 | $4,088 | $23.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,580 | $3,132 | $18.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,070 | $5,089 | $29.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($51,920) and about the same as the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $51,920 | $49,050 | $36,510 | $70,730 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $51,920 | $49,840 | $34,740 | $74,160 | 1,530 |
| United States | $51,770 | $47,260 | $35,610 | $76,750 | 73,530 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $51,920, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $43,898 a year, or $3,658 a month and $1,688 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $51,920 buys what about $56,088 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($54,980).
- Nashville$54,980
- Johnson City$52,240
- Knoxville$51,920
- Morristown$51,220
- Clarksville$50,300
- Chattanooga$49,920
- Memphis$49,320
- Jackson$48,140
- Kingsport$44,860
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Knoxville?
$24.96 an hour on average, and $23.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $43,898 a year ($3,658 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,920. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($51,770).
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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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