Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in Washington
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Washington earn a median of $49,230 a year ($23.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,490 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $39,460. Washington ranks 3rd of 40 states for ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.07 ophthalmic laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $50,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| 25th percentile | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Median | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| 75th percentile | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Average (mean) | $50,500 | $24.28 |
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 | $4,102.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,051.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,893.46 |
| Weekly | $946.73 |
| Hourly | $23.67 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,770 | 190 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $46,350 | 160 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,980 | $28.84 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $107,920 | $51.88 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,800 | $25.86 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $67,300 | $32.36 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $47,060 | $22.63 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $51,780 | $24.90 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $58,710 | $28.22 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,430 | $24.25 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,510 | $21.40 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Washington is $49,230 a year, or $23.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Washington?
The top 10% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Washington earn at least $59,490 a year. The top 25% earn $52,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,240 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn $46,210 or less.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in Washington?
About 260 ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.