Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Tennessee make a median of $38,890 a year, or about $18.7 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $43,317 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Tennessee?
About ophthalmic medical technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for ophthalmic medical technicians in Tennessee runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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 medical technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $47K | +21% | 550 |
| Morristown | $40K | +2% | 50 |
| Knoxville | $39K | +1% | 240 |
| Memphis | $39K | -1% | 270 |
| Chattanooga | $37K | -4% | 140 |
| Johnson City | $37K | -4% | 60 |
| Clarksville | $37K | -6% | 70 |
| Jackson | $37K | -6% | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $36K | -7% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track ophthalmic medical technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a ophthalmic medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic medical technicians typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,972/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $39K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for ophthalmic medical technicians?
Tennessee pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $38,890 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,870, and experienced ophthalmic medical technicians can clear $60,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,774/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 43.8% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $43,317 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.