Opticians, Dispensing salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Opticians, Dispensing in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $51,620 a year ($24.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,910 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 3% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $50,190. There are 0.36 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $58,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| 25th percentile | $43,820 | $21.07 |
| Median | $51,620 | $24.82 |
| 75th percentile | $76,850 | $36.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,910 | $39.38 |
| Average (mean) | $58,320 | $28.04 |
Half of opticians, dispensing earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,301.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,150.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,985.38 |
| Weekly | $992.69 |
| Hourly | $24.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,620 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,420 | 120 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $58,310 | 80 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,780 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,990 | 130 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 | 40 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $55,170 | 60 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $54,900 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,390 | 400 |
| Asheville, NC | $49,110 | 70 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $48,390 | 110 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $48,120 | 50 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $47,900 | 140 |
| Florence, SC | $47,150 | 50 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,090 | 480 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $46,920 | 160 |
| Columbia, SC | $46,150 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,400 | 130 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $44,700 | 150 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $40,910 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for opticians, dispensing
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $75,300 |
| Hawaii | $75,300 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 |
| Massachusetts | $67,210 |
| New York | $63,880 |
| District of Columbia | $61,310 |
| Florida | $58,850 |
| Alaska | $58,250 |
| California | $57,990 |
| Vermont | $57,350 |
See Opticians, Dispensing pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $65,140 | $31.32 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $78,950 | $37.96 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,110 | $24.57 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| Paramedic | $61,660 | $29.64 |
| Surgical Technologist | $63,490 | $30.52 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $98,650 | $47.43 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,310 | $22.27 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $56,780 | $27.30 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $47,540 | $22.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a opticians, dispensing make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $51,620 a year, or $24.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $81,910 a year. The top 25% earn $76,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,380 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $43,820 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 490 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.