Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians earn a median $39,460 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$39,460
$18.97 per hour
Range
$33,530 – $57,380
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
18,660
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the U.S. rose from $38,420 (May 2024) to $39,460 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What ophthalmic laboratory technicians do
Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.2% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 2,200
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of ophthalmic laboratory technicians is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$33,886
per year · effective tax rate 14.1%
$2,824Monthly
$1,412Twice a month
$1,303Every 2 weeks
$16.29Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,555
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,447
- Medicare (1.45%)$572
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,886
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,530 | $16.12 | $29,121 |
| 25th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 | $31,484 |
| Median (50th) | $39,460 | $18.97 | $33,886 |
| 75th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 | $39,953 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,380 | $27.59 | $48,285 |
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,410 | +2.8% | $50,443 | $49,400 – $130,460 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 | +33.8% | $49,956 | $38,170 – $80,370 | 180 |
| Washington | $49,230 | +2.9% | $41,736 | $42,240 – $59,490 | 260 |
| Colorado | $48,540 | +4.8% | $39,755 | $42,940 – $63,610 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 | — | $39,136 | $36,490 – $60,360 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 | +36.7% | $39,210 | $35,800 – $48,400 | — |
| California | $47,410 | −4.1% | $38,764 | $38,230 – $79,960 | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47,100 | +3.2% | $38,151 | $33,590 – $60,410 | 360 |
| Ohio | $46,320 | +8.3% | $38,907 | $37,180 – $48,480 | 560 |
| Oregon | $45,780 | +0.4% | $35,788 | $38,650 – $58,630 | 250 |
| Michigan | $45,490 | −3.8% | $37,049 | $36,620 – $49,380 | 330 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | +2.4% | $36,662 | $35,300 – $53,330 | 960 |
| Kansas | $44,920 | +29.5% | $36,566 | $37,960 – $45,990 | — |
| North Carolina | $44,140 | +22.2% | $36,394 | $33,890 – $57,630 | 210 |
| Maine | $43,520 | — | $35,392 | $32,750 – $61,270 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43,100 | +0.8% | $34,876 | $36,570 – $64,770 | — |
| Wisconsin | $42,920 | −3.3% | $35,559 | $32,900 – $48,690 | 200 |
| New York | $42,450 | +14.6% | $34,593 | $35,170 – $49,370 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | −0.1% | $33,865 | $36,370 – $50,250 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40,280 | −0.5% | $33,209 | $34,020 – $49,570 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $38,990 | +0.8% | $33,508 | $34,030 – $49,230 | 240 |
| Missouri | $38,740 | +3.4% | $32,424 | $30,690 – $49,450 | 360 |
| Arizona | $38,620 | −10.4% | $32,454 | $34,490 – $51,890 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $38,590 | +3.8% | $32,495 | $31,010 – $58,240 | 130 |
| Florida | $38,020 | +4.3% | $32,729 | $33,580 – $51,160 | 1,230 |
| Texas | $37,920 | +1.5% | $32,649 | $30,710 – $46,220 | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,680 | −0.7% | $31,299 | $30,160 – $49,750 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37,370 | +2.1% | $32,207 | $33,880 – $51,750 | 130 |
| Indiana | $37,360 | −2.4% | $31,126 | $34,200 – $58,050 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37,160 | +2.2% | $31,310 | $30,880 – $45,530 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37,140 | — | $31,018 | $30,200 – $41,600 | — |
| Arkansas | $37,060 | −2.7% | $30,725 | $31,290 – $44,990 | 170 |
| Alabama | $37,010 | +6.3% | $30,332 | $26,760 – $43,620 | 190 |
| Illinois | $36,840 | −0.9% | $30,102 | $35,300 – $47,990 | 830 |
| Kentucky | $36,650 | +3.2% | $30,463 | $28,860 – $47,150 | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $35,620 | −0.9% | $29,743 | $29,830 – $50,420 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35,230 | +21.8% | $29,810 | $27,460 – $46,110 | 220 |
| Virginia | $34,170 | −10.3% | $28,485 | $30,670 – $55,860 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34,140 | −11.5% | $28,720 | $24,870 – $68,910 | 130 |
| Iowa | $33,910 | +0.4% | $28,790 | $30,360 – $52,690 | 100 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Appliance Technician | $48,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| Helpers--Production Worker | $39,070 | High school diploma or equivalent | -8.2% |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator | $40,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.6% |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | $38,020 | No formal educational credential | -18.9% |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender | $41,330 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.9% |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $41,600 | No formal educational credential | +1.3% |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $42,660 | No formal educational credential | -19.2% |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender | $43,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ophthalmic laboratory technician make?
The national median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians is $39,460 a year ($18.97 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,530 and the top 10% earn over $57,380. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays ophthalmic laboratory technicians the most?
Connecticut has the highest median pay at $62,410.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 18,660 people work as ophthalmic laboratory technicians nationwide.