Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $36,570 a year ($17.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,120 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $39,460. Pay here is 7% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $34,170. There are 0.17 ophthalmic laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,210 | $14.04 |
| 25th percentile | $30,970 | $14.89 |
| Median | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| 75th percentile | $53,980 | $25.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,120 | $30.35 |
| Average (mean) | $41,180 | $19.80 |
Half of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,047.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,523.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,406.54 |
| Weekly | $703.27 |
| Hourly | $17.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,570 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $42,280 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $36,170 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for ophthalmic laboratory technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,410 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 |
| Washington | $49,230 |
| Colorado | $48,540 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 |
| California | $47,410 |
| Maryland | $47,100 |
| Ohio | $46,320 |
| Oregon | $45,780 |
See Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,530 | $21.89 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,240 | $25.12 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $58,720 | $28.23 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,000 | $22.60 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $65,540 | $31.51 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $84,260 | $40.51 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,980 | $23.07 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9083. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ophthalmic laboratory technician make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $36,570 a year, or $17.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic laboratory technicians make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $63,120 a year. The top 25% earn $53,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,210 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn $30,970 or less.
How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 130 ophthalmic laboratory technicians are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.