Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Idaho make a median of $43,950 a year, or about $21.13 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $46,815 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 37.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in Idaho?
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Idaho
Opticians, dispensing pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 38% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Idaho
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Idaho
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene | $46K | +6% | 40 |
| Boise City | $45K | +2% | 230 |
| Idaho Falls | $42K | -4% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 38% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,084/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Idaho pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Idaho?
The median is $43,950 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,730, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $75,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,989/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 38% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $46,815 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.