Ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,530 | $16.12 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| Mean (average) | $43,190 | $20.76 |
| 90th percentile | $57,380 | $27.59 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 42 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,010 | $26,760 | $43,620 | 190 | 0.75 |
| Arizona | $38,620 | $34,490 | $51,890 | 150 | 0.39 |
| Arkansas | $37,060 | $31,290 | $44,990 | 170 | 1.08 |
| California | $47,410 | $38,230 | $79,960 | 1,630 | 0.75 |
| Colorado | $48,540 | $42,940 | $63,610 | 320 | 0.92 |
| Connecticut | $62,410 | $49,400 | $130,460 | 170 | 0.83 |
| Florida | $38,020 | $33,580 | $51,160 | 1,230 | 1.03 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | $35,300 | $53,330 | 960 | 1.64 |
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.43 | ||
| Illinois | $36,840 | $35,300 | $47,990 | 830 | 1.13 |
| Indiana | $37,360 | $34,200 | $58,050 | 330 | 0.85 |
| Iowa | $33,910 | $30,360 | $52,690 | 100 | 0.51 |
| Kansas | $44,920 | $37,960 | $45,990 | ||
| Kentucky | $36,650 | $28,860 | $47,150 | 610 | 2.53 |
| Louisiana | $37,160 | $30,880 | $45,530 | 300 | 1.28 |
| Maine | $43,520 | $32,750 | $61,270 | 50 | 0.64 |
| Maryland | $47,100 | $33,590 | $60,410 | 360 | 1.08 |
| Massachusetts | $43,100 | $36,570 | $64,770 | ||
| Michigan | $45,490 | $36,620 | $49,380 | 330 | 0.63 |
| Minnesota | $40,280 | $34,020 | $49,570 | 1,110 | 3.13 |
| Mississippi | $35,230 | $27,460 | $46,110 | 220 | 1.59 |
| Missouri | $38,740 | $30,690 | $49,450 | 360 | 1.03 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | $36,370 | $50,250 | 170 | 1.37 |
| Nevada | $38,990 | $34,030 | $49,230 | 240 | 1.31 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 | $38,170 | $80,370 | 180 | 2.19 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 | $35,800 | $48,400 | ||
| New Mexico | $38,590 | $31,010 | $58,240 | 130 | 1.26 |
| New York | $42,450 | $35,170 | $49,370 | 1,250 | 1.08 |
| North Carolina | $44,140 | $33,890 | $57,630 | 210 | 0.35 |
| Ohio | $46,320 | $37,180 | $48,480 | 560 | 0.84 |
| Oklahoma | $35,620 | $29,830 | $50,420 | 210 | 1.03 |
| Oregon | $45,780 | $38,650 | $58,630 | 250 | 1.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,680 | $30,160 | $49,750 | 510 | 0.7 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,420 | $24,420 | $35,100 | 1,360 | 12.11 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 | $36,490 | $60,360 | 70 | 1.13 |
| South Carolina | $34,140 | $24,870 | $68,910 | 130 | 0.47 |
| Tennessee | $37,370 | $33,880 | $51,750 | 130 | 0.34 |
| Texas | $37,920 | $30,710 | $46,220 | 3,380 | 2 |
| Virginia | $34,170 | $30,670 | $55,860 | 470 | 0.96 |
| Washington | $49,230 | $42,240 | $59,490 | 260 | 0.61 |
| West Virginia | $37,140 | $30,200 | $41,600 | ||
| Wisconsin | $42,920 | $32,900 | $48,690 | 200 | 0.56 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for ophthalmic laboratory technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for ophthalmic laboratory technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician CIP 51.1006
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Edger Technician, Finishing Lab Technician, Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Lens Grinder and Polisher, Line Operator, Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician), Optical Technician, Polisher, Surfacing Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make?
The national median annual wage for ophthalmic laboratory technicians was $39,460 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,530 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $57,380. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do ophthalmic laboratory technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is ophthalmic laboratory technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of ophthalmic laboratory technicians to change +2.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay ophthalmic laboratory technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Connecticut ($62,410), New Hampshire ($59,460), Washington ($49,230). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.