Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Arkansas make a median of $42,880 a year, or about $20.62 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $48,927 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Arkansas?
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Opticians, dispensing pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $46K | +7% | 150 |
| Hot Springs | $46K | +7% | 30 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $43K | +1% | 200 |
| Fort Smith | $37K | -13% | 70 |
| Jonesboro | $36K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for opticians, dispensings in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,806/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Arkansas pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Arkansas?
The median is $42,880 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,100, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $73,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,916/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 35% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a opticians, dispensing salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median opticians, dispensing salary is worth about $48,927 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.