Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Wisconsin make a median of $42,920 a year, or about $20.64 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $45,500 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 41.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Wisconsin?
About ophthalmic laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $43K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 40.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Wisconsin
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $49K | +13% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 40.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,974/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $43K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
Wisconsin pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Wisconsin?
The median is $42,920 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,900, and experienced ophthalmic laboratory technicians can clear $48,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,941/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 40.9% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $45,500 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.