Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in New Jersey make a median of $47,420 a year, or about $22.8 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $47,735 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 63.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $47K get you in New Jersey?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 63.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 63.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,148/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 96% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $47K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
New Jersey pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in New Jersey?
The median is $47,420 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,800, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $48,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,251/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 63.6% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $47,735 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.