Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Illinois make a median of $36,840 a year, or about $17.71 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $39,254 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 56% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Illinois?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Illinois
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,407/month, which is 56.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Illinois
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $46K | +24% | 90 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $37K | +0% | 520 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 56.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/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 Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,118/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Illinois pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Illinois?
The median is $36,840 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,300, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $47,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,485/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 56.6% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $39,254 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.