Opticians, Dispensing Salary
Opticians, Dispensings in Utah make a median of $41,780 a year, or about $20.09 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $42,399 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 47.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Utah?
About opticians, dispensings
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for opticians, dispensing in Utah runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $47K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for opticians, dispensings.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level opticians, dispensings (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Opticians, Dispensing salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | $43K | +3% | 60 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $43K | +2% | 130 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $42K | +1% | 260 |
| Ogden | $40K | -5% | 130 |
| Logan | $39K | -7% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track opticians, dispensing salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a opticians, dispensing afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new opticians, dispensings typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,141/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $42K here vs. $47K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for opticians, dispensings?
Utah pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do opticians, dispensings make in Utah?
The median is $41,780 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,680, and experienced opticians, dispensings can clear $76,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,806/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 48.1% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $42,399 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.