Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in North Carolina make a median of $45,150 a year, or about $21.71 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $48,727 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 40.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in North Carolina?
About ophthalmic medical technicians
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Ophthalmic medical technicians pay in North Carolina 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 $1,284/month, which is 42.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary by metro in North Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $65K | +44% | 130 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $48K | +5% | 440 |
| Winston-Salem | $46K | +3% | 80 |
| Wilmington | $46K | +1% | 160 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $45K | -0% | 70 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $43K | -5% | 300 |
| Fayetteville | $37K | -18% | 60 |
| Jacksonville | $37K | -19% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic medical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 42.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic medical technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,176/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for ophthalmic medical technicians?
North Carolina pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make in North Carolina?
The median is $45,150 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,260, and experienced ophthalmic medical technicians can clear $61,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,024/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 42.5% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $48,727 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.