Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Corpus Christi, TX make a median of $30,930 a year, or about $14.87 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.67), which stretches that salary to about $33,376 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,366/month, about 61.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $31K get you in Corpus Christi?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Corpus Christi’s Regional Price Parity (92.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Corpus Christi
Pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Corpus Christi runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,366/month, which is 61% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.67 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for ophthalmic laboratory technicianss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in metros near Corpus Christi, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $38K | $37K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $38K | $40K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $41K | $42K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $42K | $42K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Corpus Christi, TX
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62K | +58% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | +51% | 180 |
| Washington | $49K | +25% | 260 |
| Colorado | $49K | +23% | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | +20% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +20% | N/A |
| California | $47K | +20% | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47K | +19% | 360 |
| Ohio | $46K | +17% | 560 |
| Oregon | $46K | +16% | 250 |
| Michigan | $45K | +15% | 330 |
| Georgia | $45K | +14% | 960 |
| Kansas | $45K | +14% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $44K | +12% | 210 |
| Maine | $44K | +10% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +9% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $43K | +9% | 200 |
| New York | $42K | +8% | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $41K | +3% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40K | +2% | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $39K | -1% | 240 |
| Missouri | $39K | -2% | 360 |
| Arizona | $39K | -2% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -2% | 130 |
| Florida | $38K | -4% | 1,230 |
| Texas | $38K | -4% | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -5% | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37K | -5% | 130 |
| Indiana | $37K | -5% | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -6% | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -6% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $37K | -6% | 170 |
| Alabama | $37K | -6% | 190 |
| Illinois | $37K | -7% | 830 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -7% | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -10% | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -11% | 220 |
| Virginia | $34K | -13% | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -13% | 130 |
| Iowa | $34K | -14% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Corpus Christi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Corpus Christi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 61% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,366/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Corpus Christi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,738/month. At HUD’s $1,366/month FMR, rent would take 79% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is ophthalmic laboratory technician a high-paying job in Corpus Christi?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $31K here vs. $39K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Corpus Christi compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Corpus Christi pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.67), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Corpus Christi, TX?
The median is $30,930 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,960, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $38,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Corpus Christi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,241/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,366/month, which eats 61% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary go in Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi has a Regional Price Parity of 92.67 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary is worth about $33,376 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do ophthalmic laboratory technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.