Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for ophthalmic laboratory technicians is $39,460, or $18.97 per hour. About 18,660 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $62,410 in Connecticut to $33,910 in Iowa.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 40 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $62,410 | $30.01 | 170 | 0.83 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $59,460 | $28.59 | 180 | 2.19 |
| 3 | Washington | $49,230 | $23.67 | 260 | 0.61 |
| 4 | Colorado | $48,540 | $23.34 | 320 | 0.92 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $47,440 | $22.81 | 70 | 1.13 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $47,420 | $22.80 | — | — |
| 7 | California | $47,410 | $22.79 | 1,630 | 0.75 |
| 8 | Maryland | $47,100 | $22.64 | 360 | 1.08 |
| 9 | Ohio | $46,320 | $22.27 | 560 | 0.84 |
| 10 | Oregon | $45,780 | $22.01 | 250 | 1.06 |
| 11 | Michigan | $45,490 | $21.87 | 330 | 0.63 |
| 12 | Georgia | $45,050 | $21.66 | 960 | 1.64 |
| 13 | Kansas | $44,920 | $21.60 | — | — |
| 14 | North Carolina | $44,140 | $21.22 | 210 | 0.35 |
| 15 | Maine | $43,520 | $20.92 | 50 | 0.64 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $43,100 | $20.72 | — | — |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $42,920 | $20.64 | 200 | 0.56 |
| 18 | New York | $42,450 | $20.41 | 1,250 | 1.08 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $40,640 | $19.54 | 170 | 1.37 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $40,280 | $19.37 | 1,110 | 3.13 |
| 21 | Nevada | $38,990 | $18.74 | 240 | 1.31 |
| 22 | Missouri | $38,740 | $18.62 | 360 | 1.03 |
| 23 | Arizona | $38,620 | $18.57 | 150 | 0.39 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $38,590 | $18.55 | 130 | 1.26 |
| 25 | Florida | $38,020 | $18.28 | 1,230 | 1.03 |
| 26 | Texas | $37,920 | $18.23 | 3,380 | 2.00 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $37,680 | $18.12 | 510 | 0.70 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $37,370 | $17.97 | 130 | 0.34 |
| 29 | Indiana | $37,360 | $17.96 | 330 | 0.85 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $37,160 | $17.86 | 300 | 1.28 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $37,140 | $17.86 | — | — |
| 32 | Arkansas | $37,060 | $17.82 | 170 | 1.08 |
| 33 | Alabama | $37,010 | $17.80 | 190 | 0.75 |
| 34 | Illinois | $36,840 | $17.71 | 830 | 1.13 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $36,650 | $17.62 | 610 | 2.53 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $35,620 | $17.12 | 210 | 1.03 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $35,230 | $16.94 | 220 | 1.59 |
| 38 | Virginia | $34,170 | $16.43 | 470 | 0.96 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $34,140 | $16.42 | 130 | 0.47 |
| 40 | Iowa | $33,910 | $16.30 | 100 | 0.51 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make?
The median annual wage for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the United States is $39,460, or $18.97 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $33,530, and the top 10% earn $57,380.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in the U.S.?
About 18,660 people work as ophthalmic laboratory technicians nationwide.
Which state pays ophthalmic laboratory technicians the most?
Connecticut pays the most at a median of $62,410, followed by New Hampshire ($59,460) and Washington ($49,230).
Which state pays ophthalmic laboratory technicians the least?
Iowa has the lowest median at $33,910.
Where are ophthalmic laboratory technicians jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Minnesota at 3.13×.