Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median of $38,740 a year ($18.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,450 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $39,460. Pay here is about the same as the Missouri statewide median of $38,740. There are 0.26 ophthalmic laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| 25th percentile | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Median | $38,740 | $18.62 |
| 75th percentile | $42,920 | $20.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| Average (mean) | $40,330 | $19.39 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $45,750 | 90 |
| Peoria, IL | $45,620 | 90 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,870 | 520 |
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 |
See Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,190 | $19.32 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $53,500 | $25.72 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,360 | $24.21 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,310 | $25.15 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $56,320 | $27.08 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,020 | $24.05 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $94,230 | $45.30 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Louis, MO-IL
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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $38,740 a year, or $18.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The top 10% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn at least $49,450 a year. The top 25% earn $42,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in St. Louis, MO-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,430 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn $35,400 or less.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About 340 ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.