Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in Iowa
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Iowa earn a median of $33,910 a year ($16.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,690 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $39,460. Iowa ranks 40th of 40 states for ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay. There are 0.06 ophthalmic laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $37,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,360 | $14.59 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.59 |
| Median | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| 75th percentile | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,690 | $25.33 |
| Average (mean) | $37,240 | $17.90 |
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 | $2,825.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,412.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,304.23 |
| Weekly | $652.12 |
| Hourly | $16.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $40,640 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for ophthalmic laboratory technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,410 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 |
| Washington | $49,230 |
| Colorado | $48,540 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 |
| California | $47,410 |
| Maryland | $47,100 |
| Ohio | $46,320 |
| Oregon | $45,780 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,570 | $24.79 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $45,560 | $21.91 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,220 | $25.11 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,600 | $23.84 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Tire Builder | $50,600 | $24.33 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Iowa is $33,910 a year, or $16.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Iowa?
The top 10% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Iowa earn at least $52,690 a year. The top 25% earn $37,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,360 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn $30,360 or less.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in Iowa?
About 100 ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.