Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,130 or more. The middle half of ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Chattanooga earn between $35,300 and $43,270.
- $33K10th
- $35K25th
- $43KMedian
- $43K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,090 | $3,508 | $20.24 |
| Median | $43,270 | $3,606 | $20.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,300 | $2,942 | $16.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,270 | $3,606 | $20.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Chattanooga earn 4% more than the Tennessee average ($40,570) and about the same as the U.S. average ($43,190). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $39,460.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $42,090 | $43,270 | $33,050 | $54,130 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $40,570 | $37,370 | $33,880 | $51,750 | 130 |
| United States | $43,190 | $39,460 | $33,530 | $57,380 | 18,660 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $42,090, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $35,999 a year, or $3,000 a month and $1,385 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $35,999 | $3,000 |
| Working in GA | $34,648 | $2,887 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for ophthalmic laboratory technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $42,090 buys what about $46,018 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Atlanta, GA$43,310
- Louisville, KY$31,980
- Columbia, SC$42,830
- Charlotte, NC$44,560
- Indianapolis, IN$44,570
- St. Louis, MO$40,330
Highest-paying cities for ophthalmic laboratory technicians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($60,920).
- San Francisco, CA$60,920
- Los Angeles, CA$57,460
- Manchester, NH$54,640
- Jacksonville, FL$53,480
- Seattle, WA$52,500
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Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do ophthalmic laboratory technicians make an hour in Chattanooga?
$20.23 an hour on average, and $20.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level ophthalmic laboratory technicians salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the ophthalmic laboratory technicians take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $35,999 a year ($3,000 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,090. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($43,190).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-9083; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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