Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Nebraska make a median of $40,640 a year, or about $19.54 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $45,130 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 40.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Nebraska?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 40% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Nebraska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $41K | +0% | N/A |
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Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 40% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/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 Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,182/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Nebraska pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Nebraska?
The median is $40,640 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,370, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $50,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,785/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 40% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $45,130 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.