Opticians, Dispensing Salary in Portland-South Portland, ME
Opticians, Dispensings in Portland-South Portland, ME make a median of $48,840 a year, or about $23.48 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $47,948 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month — about 63.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $66K | +42% | 2,260 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +39% | 580 |
| Massachusetts | $64K | +37% | 1,430 |
| New York | $60K | +29% | 5,180 |
| District of Columbia | $59K | +27% | 60 |
| California | $58K | +24% | 8,180 |
| Vermont | $58K | +23% | 90 |
| Florida | $57K | +22% | 5,030 |
| Alaska | $56K | +21% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $56K | +20% | 160 |
| Virginia | $54K | +17% | 2,500 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +8% | 280 |
| North Carolina | $50K | +6% | 1,890 |
| Oregon | $50K | +6% | 1,090 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +6% | 500 |
| Minnesota | $49K | +5% | 1,630 |
| Washington | $48K | +4% | 2,000 |
| Ohio | $48K | +3% | 3,190 |
| Tennessee | $48K | +3% | 1,640 |
| Maryland | $48K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $48K | +2% | 1,440 |
| South Carolina | $47K | +1% | 870 |
| Arizona | $47K | -0% | 1,670 |
| Maine | $46K | -1% | 310 |
| Georgia | $46K | -2% | 2,580 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -2% | 660 |
| Montana | $45K | -4% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $45K | -4% | 980 |
| Pennsylvania | $44K | -5% | 2,750 |
| Wisconsin | $43K | -7% | 1,530 |
| Iowa | $42K | -10% | 1,000 |
| North Dakota | $41K | -11% | 300 |
| Illinois | $41K | -11% | 3,660 |
| South Dakota | $41K | -12% | 420 |
| Delaware | $40K | -13% | 280 |
| Michigan | $40K | -14% | 3,220 |
| Utah | $40K | -15% | 680 |
| Idaho | $40K | -15% | 570 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -17% | 670 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -17% | 400 |
| Kansas | $38K | -19% | 810 |
| Wyoming | $38K | -19% | 160 |
| Indiana | $38K | -19% | 1,900 |
| Missouri | $37K | -21% | 1,610 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -21% | 350 |
| Texas | $36K | -22% | 7,100 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -22% | 700 |
| Alabama | $36K | -24% | 920 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -24% | 560 |
| Louisiana | $35K | -25% | 880 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-South Portland numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $48,840 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,110, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $65,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,267/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 65.2% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (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 $47,948 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.