Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay range in Waterloo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,390 or more. The middle half of ophthalmic medical technicians in Waterloo earn between $39,270 and $49,390.
- $39K10th
- $39K25th
- $39KMedian
- $49K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,160 | $3,680 | $21.23 |
| Median | $39,270 | $3,272 | $18.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,270 | $3,272 | $18.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,390 | $4,116 | $23.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay in Waterloo vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Ophthalmic medical technicians in Waterloo earn 4% less than the Iowa average ($45,940) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($47,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $45,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | $44,160 | $39,270 | $39,270 | $49,390 | n/a |
| Iowa | $45,940 | $44,030 | $36,860 | $58,610 | 500 |
| 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 Waterloo
On the average salary of $44,160, a single filer in Waterloo takes home about $36,596 a year, or $3,050 a month and $1,408 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Waterloo a good place for ophthalmic medical technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterloo area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $44,160 buys what about $50,725 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterloo ($47,430). A typical home costs $200,191, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary in other Iowa cities
Waterloo ranks 5th of 5 Iowa metro areas for this job; Cedar Rapids pays the most ($48,080).
- Cedar Rapids$48,080
- Des Moines$46,890
- Davenport$46,850
- Iowa City$46,330
- Waterloo$44,160
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 Waterloo: questions
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make an hour in Waterloo?
$21.23 an hour on average, and $18.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians salary in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the ophthalmic medical technicians take-home pay in Waterloo?
About $36,596 a year ($3,050 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,160. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do ophthalmic medical technicians earn more in Waterloo than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (47940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
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