Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Nebraska make a median of $39,830 a year, or about $19.15 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $44,231 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 41% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Nebraska?
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for opticians, dispensing in Nebraska runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 40.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for opticians, dispensings.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Nebraska
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $43K | +9% | 340 |
| Lincoln | $41K | +4% | 160 |
| Grand Island | $38K | -5% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 40.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for opticians, dispensings in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,148/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Nebraska?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $40K here vs. $47K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Nebraska pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Nebraska?
The median is $39,830 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,800, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $52,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,735/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 40.7% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $44,231 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.