Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Louisiana make a median of $37,160 a year, or about $17.86 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $42,576 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 47% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Louisiana?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 46.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $39K | +6% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 46.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/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 Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,853/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Louisiana pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Louisiana?
The median is $37,160 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,880, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $45,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,567/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 46.4% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $42,576 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.