Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,560 or more. The middle half of ophthalmic medical technicians in Chicago earn between $39,710 and $50,680.
- $37K10th
- $40K25th
- $50KMedian
- $51K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,520 | $4,043 | $23.33 |
| Median | $50,010 | $4,168 | $24.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,710 | $3,309 | $19.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,680 | $4,223 | $24.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Ophthalmic medical technicians in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($46,500) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($47,060). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $45,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $48,520 | $50,010 | $36,650 | $60,560 | 2,390 |
| Illinois | $46,500 | $47,100 | $36,190 | $60,490 | 3,250 |
| United States | $47,060 | $45,570 | $35,700 | $61,940 | 71,010 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $48,520, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $38,905 a year, or $3,242 a month and $1,496 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $39,740 | $3,312 |
| Working in IL | $38,905 | $3,242 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for ophthalmic medical technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $48,520 buys what about $46,836 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$48,520
- Peoria$43,580
- Springfield$42,640
- Bloomington$39,730
Highest-paying cities for ophthalmic medical technicians
Santa Rosa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,160).
- Santa Rosa, CA$91,160
- San Francisco, CA$73,740
- San Jose, CA$68,910
- Minneapolis, MN$67,350
- Los Angeles, CA$64,620
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Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$23.33 an hour on average, and $24.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the ophthalmic medical technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $38,905 a year ($3,242 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,520.
Do ophthalmic medical technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($47,060).
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 29-2057; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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