Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Mayaguez, PR make a median of $28,370 a year, or about $13.64 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $28,370 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $530/month, or 26.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $28K get you in Mayaguez?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Mayaguez’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Mayaguez
Pay for opticians, dispensing in Mayaguez runs about 40% below the U.S. median of $47K. Rent runs $530/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for opticians, dispensings in metros near Mayaguez, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $29K | $29K |
| Ponce | $29K | $29K |
| Aguadilla | $28K | $28K |
| Arecibo | $28K | $28K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mayaguez, PR
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Opticians, Dispensing salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75K | +59% | 610 |
| Hawaii | $75K | +59% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $72K | +53% | 2,010 |
| Massachusetts | $67K | +42% | 1,360 |
| New York | $64K | +35% | 3,520 |
| District of Columbia | $61K | +30% | 80 |
| Florida | $59K | +25% | 5,080 |
| Alaska | $58K | +23% | 90 |
| California | $58K | +23% | 7,840 |
| Vermont | $57K | +21% | 70 |
| Virginia | $56K | +18% | 1,860 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | +10% | 440 |
| Ohio | $51K | +7% | 2,960 |
| North Carolina | $50K | +6% | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $50K | +5% | 1,530 |
| Washington | $49K | +4% | 2,100 |
| Oregon | $49K | +4% | 1,000 |
| Maryland | $49K | +3% | 1,060 |
| Arizona | $48K | +2% | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +2% | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48K | +2% | 2,290 |
| South Carolina | $48K | +2% | 890 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | +0% | 350 |
| Colorado | $47K | +0% | 1,520 |
| Maine | $47K | -0% | 350 |
| Montana | $47K | -0% | 330 |
| Nevada | $47K | -1% | 960 |
| Delaware | $46K | -2% | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -4% | 2,230 |
| North Dakota | $45K | -4% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $45K | -5% | 1,430 |
| Iowa | $44K | -6% | 920 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -6% | 950 |
| Illinois | $44K | -7% | 3,250 |
| Idaho | $44K | -7% | 530 |
| South Dakota | $43K | -8% | 430 |
| Arkansas | $43K | -9% | 690 |
| Utah | $42K | -12% | 700 |
| Michigan | $41K | -13% | 3,080 |
| Kansas | $40K | -15% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $40K | -16% | 870 |
| Indiana | $39K | -17% | 2,010 |
| Wyoming | $39K | -17% | 130 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -17% | 340 |
| Missouri | $39K | -18% | 1,600 |
| Texas | $39K | -18% | 6,700 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -19% | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -20% | 730 |
| Alabama | $37K | -22% | 880 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -22% | 560 |
| Louisiana | $36K | -23% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mayaguez?
Yes — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 25.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $530/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for opticians, dispensings in Mayaguez?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,369/month. At HUD’s $530/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Mayaguez?
Local pay runs 40% below the national median — $28K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Mayaguez compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Mayaguez pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -40%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $28K — below the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Mayaguez, PR?
The median is $28,370 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,810, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $44,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Mayaguez?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,070/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $530/month, which eats 25.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a opticians, dispensing salary go in Mayaguez?
Mayaguez 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 $28,370 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.