Opticians, Dispensing salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Opticians, Dispensing in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $58,310 a year ($28.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,420 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 16% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $50,190. There are 0.23 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $60,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| 25th percentile | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Median | $58,310 | $28.03 |
| 75th percentile | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,420 | $40.59 |
| Average (mean) | $60,240 | $28.96 |
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 | $4,859.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,429.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,242.69 |
| Weekly | $1,121.35 |
| Hourly | $28.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,420 | 120 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $57,780 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $55,990 | 130 |
| Burlington, NC | $55,530 | 40 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $54,900 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,390 | 400 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $51,620 | 490 |
| Asheville, NC | $49,110 | 70 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,090 | 480 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,400 | 130 |
| 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $47,350 | $22.76 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $66,950 | $32.19 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,430 | $38.67 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $54,610 | $26.25 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $57,290 | $27.54 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Surgical Technologist | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Paramedic | $64,310 | $30.92 |
| Dietetic Technician | $41,260 | $19.84 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $50,660 | $24.36 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $65,000 | $31.25 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $141,360 | $67.96 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $58,310 a year, or $28.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $84,420 a year. The top 25% earn $75,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,320 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $42,640 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 80 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.