Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Colorado make a median of $47,310 a year, or about $22.74 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $45,618 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 55.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Colorado
Opticians, dispensing pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,832/month, which is 57.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $51K | +7% | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $50K | +5% | 750 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $47K | +0% | 140 |
| Greeley | $46K | -2% | 40 |
| Colorado Springs | $45K | -4% | 190 |
| Grand Junction | $44K | -6% | 60 |
| Pueblo | $42K | -11% | 40 |
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Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 57.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,632/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Colorado pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Colorado?
The median is $47,310 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,900, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $66,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,164/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 57.9% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median opticians, dispensing salary is worth about $45,618 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.