Opticians, Dispensing salary in Wilmington, NC
Opticians, Dispensing in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $45,400 a year ($21.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,600 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $47,260. Pay here is 10% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $50,190. There are 0.67 opticians, dispensing per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for opticians, dispensing in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| 25th percentile | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| Median | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| 75th percentile | $65,870 | $31.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,600 | $40.19 |
| Average (mean) | $52,140 | $25.07 |
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 | $3,783.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,891.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,746.15 |
| Weekly | $873.08 |
| Hourly | $21.83 |
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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $58,310 | 80 |
| 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 |
| 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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,390 | $30.48 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $44,300 | $21.30 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $67,210 | $32.31 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $58,110 | $27.94 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $34,200 | $16.44 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $45,060 | $21.66 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Paramedic | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| Surgical Technologist | $60,900 | $29.28 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $81,480 | $39.17 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,530 | $21.89 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $83,650 | $40.22 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for opticians, dispensing in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $45,400 a year, or $21.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid opticians, dispensing make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of opticians, dispensing in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $83,600 a year. The top 25% earn $65,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for opticians, dispensing in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,280 a year, and a quarter of opticians, dispensing earn $36,500 or less.
How many opticians, dispensing work in Wilmington, NC?
About 130 opticians, dispensing are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.