Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for ophthalmic laboratory technicianss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $43,190 ≈ $21/hr
National median salary $39,460
Total employment 18,660 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +2.3%
About as fast as average
Annual openings 2,400 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 19,600 → 20,000 (+500)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Connecticut$79,600
- New Hampshire$57,800
- California$54,790
- Colorado$53,240
- Washington$50,500
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Alabama$35,290
- West Virginia$36,270
- Kentucky$36,310
- Oklahoma$37,020
- Mississippi$37,120
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $79,600 | $62,410 | $38 | +84.3% | 170 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $57,800 | $59,460 | $28 | +33.8% | 180 |
| 3 | California | $54,790 | $47,410 | $26 | +26.9% | 1,630 |
| 4 | Colorado | $53,240 | $48,540 | $26 | +23.3% | 320 |
| 5 | Washington | $50,500 | $49,230 | $24 | +16.9% | 260 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $48,840 | $47,440 | $23 | +13.1% | 70 |
| 7 | Maryland | $48,450 | $47,100 | $23 | +12.2% | 360 |
| 8 | Oregon | $47,530 | $45,780 | $23 | +10% | 250 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $45,650 | $43,100 | $22 | +5.7% | — |
| 10 | North Carolina | $44,980 | $44,140 | $22 | +4.1% | 210 |
| 11 | Ohio | $44,630 | $46,320 | $21 | +3.3% | 560 |
| 12 | Maine | $44,270 | $43,520 | $21 | +2.5% | 50 |
| 13 | Michigan | $44,170 | $45,490 | $21 | +2.3% | 330 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $43,930 | $47,420 | $21 | +1.7% | — |
| 15 | Kansas | $43,410 | $44,920 | $21 | +0.5% | — |
| 16 | Nebraska | $43,110 | $40,640 | $21 | -0.2% | 170 |
| 17 | New York | $42,890 | $42,450 | $21 | -0.7% | 1,250 |
| 18 | Georgia | $42,820 | $45,050 | $21 | -0.9% | 960 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $42,360 | $40,280 | $20 | -1.9% | 1,110 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $42,290 | $42,920 | $20 | -2.1% | 200 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $41,950 | $38,590 | $20 | -2.9% | 130 |
| 22 | Florida | $41,930 | $38,020 | $20 | -2.9% | 1,230 |
| 23 | Arizona | $41,790 | $38,620 | $20 | -3.2% | 150 |
| 24 | Nevada | $41,010 | $38,990 | $20 | -5% | 240 |
| 25 | Indiana | $40,820 | $37,360 | $20 | -5.5% | 330 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $40,570 | $37,370 | $20 | -6.1% | 130 |
| 27 | Illinois | $39,850 | $36,840 | $19 | -7.7% | 830 |
| 28 | Missouri | $39,650 | $38,740 | $19 | -8.2% | 360 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $39,600 | $37,680 | $19 | -8.3% | 510 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $39,280 | $34,140 | $19 | -9.1% | 130 |
| 31 | Texas | $39,060 | $37,920 | $19 | -9.6% | 3,380 |
| 32 | Virginia | $38,280 | $34,170 | $18 | -11.4% | 470 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $37,910 | $37,060 | $18 | -12.2% | 170 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $37,740 | $37,160 | $18 | -12.6% | 300 |
| 35 | Iowa | $37,240 | $33,910 | $18 | -13.8% | 100 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $37,120 | $35,230 | $18 | -14.1% | 220 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $37,020 | $35,620 | $18 | -14.3% | 210 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $36,310 | $36,650 | $17 | -15.9% | 610 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $36,270 | $37,140 | $17 | -16% | — |
| 40 | Alabama | $35,290 | $37,010 | $17 | -18.3% | 190 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 60 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $60,160 | $57,730 | 40 |
| 2 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $52,510 | $52,110 | 120 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $51,090 | $60,920 | 180 |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,770 | $52,500 | 190 |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,120 | $57,460 | 870 |
| 6 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $48,860 | $46,900 | 30 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $48,530 | $46,670 | 40 |
| 8 | Jacksonville, FL | $48,410 | $53,480 | 190 |
| 9 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,140 | $46,750 | — |
| 10 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,470 | $51,900 | 110 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing ophthalmic laboratory technicianss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outpatient Care Centers | $74,870 | $72,620 | 330 |
| 2 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $62,730 | $63,610 | 110 |
| 3 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $62,730 | $63,700 | 110 |
| 4 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $62,730 | $63,700 | 110 |
| 5 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $62,730 | $63,610 | 110 |
| 6 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $62,550 | $62,510 | 120 |
| 7 | Machinery Manufacturing | $49,380 | $55,900 | — |
| 8 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $49,380 | $55,900 | — |
| 9 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $44,470 | $45,660 | 7,590 |
| 10 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $43,270 | $43,570 | 6,310 |
| 11 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $43,270 | $43,570 | 6,310 |
| 12 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $39,460 | $43,190 | 18,660 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in the U.S.?
The median ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary in the United States is $39,460 per year (mean $43,190), and about 80% earn between $33,530 and $57,380.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make per hour?
Roughly $21 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $43,190 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays ophthalmic laboratory technicians the most?
Connecticut has the highest average pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians at $79,600 per year (median $62,410).
What is the job outlook for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Employment is projected to change +2.3% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 2,400 openings per year.