Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Oregon make a median of $49,210 a year, or about $23.66 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $48,038 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,555/month, about 45.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Oregon?
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Oregon
Opticians, dispensing pay in Oregon tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,555/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Oregon
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $55K | +11% | 80 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $50K | +1% | 600 |
| Salem | $48K | -3% | 80 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $46K | -6% | 80 |
| Albany | $46K | -6% | 30 |
| Medford | $46K | -7% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Oregon numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Oregon?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/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 Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,369/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Oregon?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Oregon pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Oregon?
The median is $49,210 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,480, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $76,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 49.4% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median opticians, dispensing salary is worth about $48,038 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.