Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Nebraska make a median of $45,210 a year, or about $21.74 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $50,205 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Nebraska?
About ophthalmic medical technicians
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Ophthalmic medical technicians pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 36.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary by metro in Nebraska
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $47K | +5% | 220 |
| Lincoln | $45K | +0% | 130 |
| Grand Island | $45K | -1% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic medical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/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 medical technicians in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic medical technicians typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,240/month. At HUD’s $1,113/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 Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for ophthalmic medical technicians?
Nebraska pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make in Nebraska?
The median is $45,210 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,330, and experienced ophthalmic medical technicians can clear $53,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,071/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 36.2% 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 medical technicians salary go in Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $50,205 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.