Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Wausau
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,600 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Wausau earn between $38,300 and $48,460.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $48K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,380 | $3,782 | $21.82 |
| Median | $45,090 | $3,758 | $21.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,300 | $3,192 | $18.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,460 | $4,038 | $23.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Wausau
On the average salary of $45,380, a single filer in Wausau takes home about $37,294 a year, or $3,108 a month and $1,434 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).
Is Wausau a good place for opticians, dispensing? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wausau area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $45,380 buys what about $48,980 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Wausau ($48,790). A typical home costs $274,194, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other Wisconsin cities
Wausau ranks 10th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($48,490).
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 Wausau: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Wausau?
$21.82 an hour on average, and $21.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Wausau?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Wausau?
About $37,294 a year ($3,108 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,380.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Wausau 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 Wausau, WI (48140). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.