Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,140 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Charleston earn between $37,310 and $46,630.
- $33K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $47K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,820 | $3,485 | $20.11 |
| Median | $38,130 | $3,178 | $18.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,310 | $3,109 | $17.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,630 | $3,886 | $22.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $41,820, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $34,682 a year, or $2,890 a month and $1,334 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 Charleston a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $41,820 buys what about $47,139 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 3rd of 5 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Wheeling pays the most ($42,950).
- Wheeling$42,950
- Huntington$42,490
- Charleston$41,820
- Parkersburg$39,760
- Morgantown$39,310
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 Charleston: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Charleston?
$20.11 an hour on average, and $18.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Charleston?
About $34,682 a year ($2,890 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,820.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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