Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Minnesota make a median of $63,080 a year, or about $30.33 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $68,121 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 33.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Minnesota?
About ophthalmic medical technicians
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for ophthalmic medical technicians, local pay runs about 38% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary by metro in Minnesota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $63K | +0% | 450 |
| Duluth | $62K | -2% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic medical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 33.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for ophthalmic medical technicians in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic medical technicians typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,765/month. At HUD’s $1,384/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 medical technician a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Local pay is 38% above the national median — $63K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for ophthalmic medical technicians?
Minnesota pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +38%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make in Minnesota?
The median is $63,080 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,080, and experienced ophthalmic medical technicians can clear $83,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,155/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 33.3% 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 medical technicians salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 medical technicians salary is worth about $68,121 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do ophthalmic medical 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.