Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Utah make a median of $35,950 a year, or about $17.29 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $36,483 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 55.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $36K actually covers in Utah, month by month
About ophthalmic medical technicians
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for ophthalmic medical technicians in Utah runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 55.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for ophthalmic medical technicians.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Utah
Entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary by metro in Utah
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | $39K | +10% | 60 |
| Ogden | $39K | +9% | 100 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $36K | -0% | 270 |
| Logan | $35K | -3% | 60 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $34K | -4% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a ophthalmic medical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 55.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new ophthalmic medical technicians typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,090/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $36K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for ophthalmic medical technicians?
Utah pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make in Utah?
The median is $35,950 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,440, and experienced ophthalmic medical technicians can clear $49,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,438/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 55.4% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $36,483 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.