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.
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 |
Best cities for ophthalmic laboratory technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, NY | $45,420 | $36,819 | $37,944 | 490 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $45,870 | $37,279 | $37,257 | 830 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $39,370 | $32,526 | $37,117 | 520 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,120 | $40,743 | $35,876 | 870 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $37,920 | $32,649 | $34,470 | 440 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,780 | $34,334 | $32,754 | 570 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $38,280 | $32,938 | $31,951 | 1,940 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $36,870 | $30,125 | $29,079 | 520 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $38,190 | $31,400 | $27,896 | 570 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $50,120
- Atlanta, GA — $45,870
- Rochester, NY — $45,420
- Minneapolis, MN — $41,780
- St. Cloud, MN — $39,370
- Dallas, TX — $38,280
- New York, NY — $38,190
- San Antonio, TX — $37,920
- Chicago, IL — $36,870
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,410 | $50,443 | $49,400 – $130,460 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 | $49,956 | $38,170 – $80,370 | 180 |
| Washington | $49,230 | $41,736 | $42,240 – $59,490 | 260 |
| Colorado | $48,540 | $39,755 | $42,940 – $63,610 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 | $39,136 | $36,490 – $60,360 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 | $39,210 | $35,800 – $48,400 | — |
| California | $47,410 | $38,764 | $38,230 – $79,960 | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47,100 | $38,151 | $33,590 – $60,410 | 360 |
| Ohio | $46,320 | $38,907 | $37,180 – $48,480 | 560 |
| Oregon | $45,780 | $35,788 | $38,650 – $58,630 | 250 |
| Michigan | $45,490 | $37,049 | $36,620 – $49,380 | 330 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | $36,662 | $35,300 – $53,330 | 960 |
| Kansas | $44,920 | $36,566 | $37,960 – $45,990 | — |
| North Carolina | $44,140 | $36,394 | $33,890 – $57,630 | 210 |
| Maine | $43,520 | $35,392 | $32,750 – $61,270 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43,100 | $34,876 | $36,570 – $64,770 | — |
| Wisconsin | $42,920 | $35,559 | $32,900 – $48,690 | 200 |
| New York | $42,450 | $34,593 | $35,170 – $49,370 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | $33,865 | $36,370 – $50,250 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40,280 | $33,209 | $34,020 – $49,570 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $38,990 | $33,508 | $34,030 – $49,230 | 240 |
| Missouri | $38,740 | $32,424 | $30,690 – $49,450 | 360 |
| Arizona | $38,620 | $32,454 | $34,490 – $51,890 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $38,590 | $32,495 | $31,010 – $58,240 | 130 |
| Florida | $38,020 | $32,729 | $33,580 – $51,160 | 1,230 |
| Texas | $37,920 | $32,649 | $30,710 – $46,220 | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,680 | $31,299 | $30,160 – $49,750 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37,370 | $32,207 | $33,880 – $51,750 | 130 |
| Indiana | $37,360 | $31,126 | $34,200 – $58,050 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37,160 | $31,310 | $30,880 – $45,530 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37,140 | $31,018 | $30,200 – $41,600 | — |
| Arkansas | $37,060 | $30,725 | $31,290 – $44,990 | 170 |
| Alabama | $37,010 | $30,332 | $26,760 – $43,620 | 190 |
| Illinois | $36,840 | $30,102 | $35,300 – $47,990 | 830 |
| Kentucky | $36,650 | $30,463 | $28,860 – $47,150 | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $35,620 | $29,743 | $29,830 – $50,420 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35,230 | $29,810 | $27,460 – $46,110 | 220 |
| Virginia | $34,170 | $28,485 | $30,670 – $55,860 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34,140 | $28,720 | $24,870 – $68,910 | 130 |
| Iowa | $33,910 | $28,790 | $30,360 – $52,690 | 100 |
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. After taxes and local prices, Rochester, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 18,660 people work as ophthalmic laboratory technicians nationwide.