Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in Missouri
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Missouri earn a median of $38,740 a year ($18.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,450 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $39,460. Missouri ranks 22nd of 40 states for ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay. There are 0.12 ophthalmic laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Missouri
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,690 | $14.75 |
| 25th percentile | $33,520 | $16.12 |
| Median | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| 75th percentile | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| Average (mean) | $39,650 | $19.06 |
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 | $3,228.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,614.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,490 |
| Weekly | $745 |
| Hourly | $18.62 |
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 Missouri
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $45,750 | 90 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,740 | 340 |
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 Missouri
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,420 | $26.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.35 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,290 | $23.70 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,000 | $24.52 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,930 | $24.49 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,470 | $22.82 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $46,870 | $22.53 |
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 Missouri?
The median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Missouri is $38,740 a year, or $18.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Missouri?
The top 10% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Missouri earn at least $49,450 a year. The top 25% earn $42,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Missouri?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,690 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn $33,520 or less.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in Missouri?
About 360 ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in Missouri, not counting the self-employed.