Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,230 or more. The middle half of ophthalmic medical technicians in Chattanooga earn between $36,680 and $43,310.
- $35K10th
- $37K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,250 | $3,354 | $19.35 |
| Median | $37,430 | $3,119 | $18.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,310 | $3,609 | $20.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Ophthalmic medical technicians in Chattanooga earn 7% less than the Tennessee average ($43,190) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($47,060). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $45,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $40,250 | $37,430 | $34,760 | $50,230 | 140 |
| Tennessee | $43,190 | $38,890 | $32,870 | $60,170 | 1,760 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $40,250, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $34,521 a year, or $2,877 a month and $1,328 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 | $34,521 | $2,877 |
| Working in GA | $33,261 | $2,772 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for ophthalmic medical 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 $40,250 buys what about $44,006 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($49,880).
- Nashville$49,880
- Memphis$42,810
- Knoxville$41,970
- Chattanooga$40,250
- Johnson City$39,920
- Morristown$39,760
- Clarksville$38,770
- Jackson$37,760
- Kingsport$37,650
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make an hour in Chattanooga?
$19.35 an hour on average, and $18.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the ophthalmic medical technicians take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $34,521 a year ($2,877 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,250. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do ophthalmic medical technicians earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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