Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Texas make a median of $37,920 a year, or about $18.23 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $41,447 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 51.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Texas?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Texas
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 52.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Texas
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $42K | +10% | 180 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $41K | +8% | 270 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $38K | +1% | 1,940 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $38K | +0% | 440 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $36K | -4% | 40 |
| Lubbock | $32K | -15% | 30 |
| Corpus Christi | $31K | -18% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 52.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,843/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Texas pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Texas?
The median is $37,920 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,710, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $46,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,709/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 52.2% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $41,447 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.