Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Virginia make a median of $34,170 a year, or about $16.43 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $36,048 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 70.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Virginia?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Virginia
Pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Virginia runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 70.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for ophthalmic laboratory technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Virginia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $37K | +7% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 70.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,840/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 89% 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 Virginia?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $34K here vs. $39K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Virginia pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Virginia?
The median is $34,170 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,670, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $55,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,337/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 70.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $36,048 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.