Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Peoria, IL make a median of $45,620 a year, or about $21.93 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.23), which stretches that salary to about $50,005 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,039/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K get you in Peoria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Peoria’s Regional Price Parity (91.23). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Peoria
Peoria sits well above the national pay line for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. Rent runs $1,039/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in metros near Peoria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $37K | $36K |
| St. Louis | $39K | $41K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $39K | $41K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $29K | $31K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Peoria, IL
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62K | +58% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59K | +51% | 180 |
| Washington | $49K | +25% | 260 |
| Colorado | $49K | +23% | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | +20% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +20% | N/A |
| California | $47K | +20% | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47K | +19% | 360 |
| Ohio | $46K | +17% | 560 |
| Oregon | $46K | +16% | 250 |
| Michigan | $45K | +15% | 330 |
| Georgia | $45K | +14% | 960 |
| Kansas | $45K | +14% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $44K | +12% | 210 |
| Maine | $44K | +10% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +9% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $43K | +9% | 200 |
| New York | $42K | +8% | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $41K | +3% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40K | +2% | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $39K | -1% | 240 |
| Missouri | $39K | -2% | 360 |
| Arizona | $39K | -2% | 150 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -2% | 130 |
| Florida | $38K | -4% | 1,230 |
| Texas | $38K | -4% | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -5% | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37K | -5% | 130 |
| Indiana | $37K | -5% | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -6% | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -6% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $37K | -6% | 170 |
| Alabama | $37K | -6% | 190 |
| Illinois | $37K | -7% | 830 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -7% | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $36K | -10% | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35K | -11% | 220 |
| Virginia | $34K | -13% | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -13% | 130 |
| Iowa | $34K | -14% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Peoria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Peoria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,039/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Peoria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,074/month. At HUD’s $1,039/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Peoria?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $46K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Peoria compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Peoria pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Peoria, IL?
The median is $45,620 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,560, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $55,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Peoria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,036/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,039/month, which eats 34.2% 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 Peoria?
Peoria has a Regional Price Parity of 91.23 (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 $50,005 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.