Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Georgia make a median of $48,010 a year, or about $23.08 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $52,247 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Georgia?
About opticians, dispensings
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Opticians, dispensing pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $48K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 44.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Georgia
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $52K | +8% | 1,380 |
| Savannah | $46K | -3% | 100 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $46K | -4% | 70 |
| Gainesville | $45K | -6% | 50 |
| Warner Robins | $45K | -7% | 40 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $45K | -7% | 30 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $45K | -7% | 150 |
| Valdosta | $44K | -8% | 30 |
| Albany | $40K | -17% | 40 |
| Columbus | $39K | -18% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 44.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for opticians, dispensings in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,208/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Georgia pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Georgia?
The median is $48,010 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,800, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $74,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 44.8% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $52,247 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.