Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Salary
Production Occupations · 19K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$39,460
Median hourly
$19
Average annual
$43,190
Typical range
$33,530–$57,380
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians is $39,460 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $19 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements.
Most earn between $33,530 and $57,380 a year. There are roughly 19K people employed as ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians.
- Hourly
- $18.97
- Daily
- $152
- Weekly
- $759
- Bi-weekly
- $1,518
- Monthly
- $3,288
- Annual
- $39,460
$39,460 a year is around the 50th percentile for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicianss. The median is $39,460.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Connecticut$62,410
- 2New Hampshire$59,460
- 3Washington$49,230
- 4Colorado$48,540
- 5Rhode Island$47,440
- 6New Jersey$47,420
- 7California$47,410
- 8Maryland$47,100
- 9Ohio$46,320
- 10Oregon$45,780
- 11Michigan$45,490
- 12Georgia$45,050
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$52,510
- 2San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$51,090
- 3Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$50,770
- 4Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$50,120
- 5Eugene-Springfield, OR$48,860
- 6Madison, WI$48,530
- 7Jacksonville, FL$48,410
- 8Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$48,140
- 9Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$47,470
- 10Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$47,440
- 11Manchester-Nashua, NH$47,410
- 12Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$47,100
Related job titles
Employers advertise Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians roles under these titles.
- Artificial Plastic Eye Maker
- Benchroom Shop Optician
- Contact Lens Blocker
- Contact Lens Blocker and Cutter
- Contact Lens Cutter
- Contact Lens Lathe Operator
- Contact Lens Manufacturer
- Diamond Grinder
- Dotter
- Edger Technician
- Eyeglass Assembler
- Eyeglass Cutter
- Eyeglass Lens Cutter
- Eyeglass Maker
- Finishing Lab Technician
- Glass Frame Fitter
Related occupations
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$42,660
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060
- Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers$52,720
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters$62,620
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620
What a Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians does
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians make?
- The median annual wage for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians is $39,460 ($19 per hour). Pay ranges from about $33,530 at the 10th percentile to $57,380 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $43,190, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicianss the most?
- Connecticut has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $62,410.
- Is Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 19K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians do?
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.; Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.; Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses..