How much does an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician make?
An Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician earns a median annual salary of $39,460 in the United States, which works out to roughly $18.97 per hour for full-time work. Most Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians earn between $33,530 at the entry level and $57,380 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $36,470 and $47,010 a year.
That is $21,930 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary range by percentile
Half of all Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians earn between $36,470 and $47,010 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,530 | $16.12 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,470 | $17.53 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,460 | $18.97 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $47,010 | $22.60 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,380 | $27.59 |
Highest-paying states for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Connecticut leads the country for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician pay at $62,410 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($59,460) and Washington ($49,230). At the other end, Iowa posts the lowest median at $33,910 — a gap of $28,500 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $62,410 | $30.00 | +58% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $59,460 | $28.59 | +51% |
| 3 | Washington | $49,230 | $23.67 | +25% |
| 4 | Colorado | $48,540 | $23.34 | +23% |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $47,440 | $22.81 | +20% |
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 40 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 19,000 people work as Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $43,190 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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