Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Arecibo, PR make a median of $28,010 a year, or about $13.47 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $28,010 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $510/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $28K get you in Arecibo?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Arecibo’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Arecibo
Pay for opticians, dispensing in Arecibo runs about 41% below the U.S. median of $47K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $510/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arecibo can be a reasonable trade-off for opticians, dispensings who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for opticians, dispensings in metros near Arecibo, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $29K | $29K |
| Ponce | $29K | $29K |
| Aguadilla | $28K | $28K |
| Mayaguez | $28K | $28K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arecibo, PR
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Opticians, Dispensing salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75K | +59% | 610 |
| Hawaii | $75K | +59% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72K | +53% | 2,010 |
| Massachusetts | $67K | +42% | 1,360 |
| New York | $64K | +35% | 3,520 |
| District of Columbia | $61K | +30% | 80 |
| Florida | $59K | +25% | 5,080 |
| Alaska | $58K | +23% | 90 |
| California | $58K | +23% | 7,840 |
| Vermont | $57K | +21% | 70 |
| Virginia | $56K | +18% | 1,860 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | +10% | 440 |
| Ohio | $51K | +7% | 2,960 |
| North Carolina | $50K | +6% | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $50K | +5% | 1,530 |
| Washington | $49K | +4% | 2,100 |
| Oregon | $49K | +4% | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $49K | +3% | 1,060 |
| Arizona | $48K | +2% | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +2% | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48K | +2% | 2,290 |
| South Carolina | $48K | +2% | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | +0% | 350 |
| Colorado | $47K | +0% | 1,520 |
| Maine | $47K | -0% | 350 |
| Montana | $47K | -0% | 330 |
| Nevada | $47K | -1% | 960 |
| Delaware | $46K | -2% | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -4% | 2,230 |
| North Dakota | $45K | -4% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | -5% | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $44K | -6% | 920 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -6% | 950 |
| Illinois | $44K | -7% | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $44K | -7% | 530 |
| South Dakota | $43K | -8% | 430 |
| Arkansas | $43K | -9% | 690 |
| Utah | $42K | -12% | 700 |
| Michigan | $41K | -13% | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $40K | -15% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $40K | -16% | 870 |
| Indiana | $39K | -17% | 2,010 |
| Wyoming | $39K | -17% | 130 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -17% | 340 |
| Missouri | $39K | -18% | 1,600 |
| Texas | $39K | -18% | 6,700 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -19% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -20% | 730 |
| Alabama | $37K | -22% | 880 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -22% | 560 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -23% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
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Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arecibo?
Yes — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $510/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for opticians, dispensings in Arecibo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,363/month. At HUD’s $510/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is opticians, dispensing a high-paying job in Arecibo?
Local pay runs 41% below the national median — $28K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Arecibo compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Arecibo pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $28K — below the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Arecibo, PR?
The median is $28,010 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,710, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $46,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Arecibo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,045/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $510/month, which eats 24.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a opticians, dispensing salary go in Arecibo?
Arecibo has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median opticians, dispensing salary is worth about $28,010 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do opticians, dispensings get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.