Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in the U.S.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $39,460 a year ($18.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,380 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $43,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,530 | $16.12 |
| 25th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Median | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 75th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,380 | $27.59 |
| Average (mean) | $43,190 | $20.76 |
Half of ophthalmic laboratory technicians 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 | $3,288.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,644.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,517.69 |
| Weekly | $758.85 |
| Hourly | $18.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,410 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 | 180 |
| Washington | $49,230 | 260 |
| Colorado | $48,540 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 | n/a |
| California | $47,410 | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47,100 | 360 |
| Ohio | $46,320 | 560 |
| Oregon | $45,780 | 250 |
| Michigan | $45,490 | 330 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | 960 |
| Kansas | $44,920 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $44,140 | 210 |
| Maine | $43,520 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43,100 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $42,920 | 200 |
| New York | $42,450 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40,280 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $38,990 | 240 |
| Missouri | $38,740 | 360 |
| Arizona | $38,620 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $38,590 | 130 |
| Florida | $38,020 | 1,230 |
| Texas | $37,920 | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,680 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37,370 | 130 |
| Indiana | $37,360 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37,160 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37,140 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $37,060 | 170 |
| Alabama | $37,010 | 190 |
| Illinois | $36,840 | 830 |
| Kentucky | $36,650 | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $35,620 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35,230 | 220 |
| Virginia | $34,170 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34,140 | 130 |
| Iowa | $33,910 | 100 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,420 | 1,360 |
Best-paying metro areas for ophthalmic laboratory technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $52,510 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,090 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,770 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,120 | 870 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $48,860 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $48,530 | 40 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,410 | 190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,140 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,470 | 110 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $47,440 | 90 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $47,410 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $47,100 | 260 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,350 | 160 |
| Cleveland, OH | $46,320 | 170 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $46,280 | 230 |
Metro areas with the most ophthalmic laboratory technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,940 | $38,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 870 | $50,120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 830 | $45,870 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 570 | $41,780 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 570 | $38,190 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 520 | $36,870 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 520 | $39,370 |
| Rochester, NY | 490 | $45,420 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 440 | $37,920 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 370 | $37,340 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 340 | $38,740 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 270 | $41,140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 270 | $36,170 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 260 | $47,100 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 250 | $38,020 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9083. 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 ophthalmic laboratory technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the U.S. is $39,460 a year, or $18.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the U.S. earn at least $57,380 a year. The top 25% earn $47,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,530 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn $36,470 or less.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in the U.S.?
About 18,660 ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.