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.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Colorado?
About opticians, dispensings
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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 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 64.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/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 $2,334/month.
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%.
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 $2,044/month, which eats 64.6% 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 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 $47,310 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.