Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Indiana make a median of $37,360 a year, or about $17.96 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $40,693 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,144/month, about 44.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Indiana?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Indiana
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,144/month, which is 44.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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, Indiana
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $39K | +4% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 44.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,052/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Indiana pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Indiana?
The median is $37,360 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,200, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $58,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,577/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 44.4% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $40,693 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.