GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Best States to Be a Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a ophthalmic medical technicians salary goes furthest in Minnesota — a $63,080 BLS median worth $61,122 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 136.5).
Which US states are best for a ophthalmic medical technicians after cost of living and tax?
For a ophthalmic medical technicians, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Minnesota #1: a $63,080 BLS median becomes $61,122 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 136.5). Utah ranks last ($34,709, index 77.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Minnesota ranks #1 of 51 states for a ophthalmic medical technicians. Index 100 = the average state; 136.5 means pay goes 36.5% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedOphthalmic Medical Technicians — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $63,080 | $2,801 | 98.6 | $61,122 | 136.5 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $56,420 | $1,838 | 94.1 | $58,007 | 129.5 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $46,190 | — | 89.0 | $51,923 | 115.9 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $58,240 | $2,896 | 110.0 | $50,335 | 112.4 |
| 5 | Vermont | $50,090 | $1,259 | 98.0 | $49,849 | 111.3 |
| 6 | Alaska | $49,970 | — | 102.4 | $48,818 | 109.0 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $45,210 | $1,259 | 90.1 | $48,779 | 108.9 |
| 8 | Iowa | $44,030 | $1,633 | 87.8 | $48,309 | 107.9 |
| 9 | Montana | $47,290 | $1,652 | 94.6 | $48,220 | 107.7 |
| 10 | California | $54,490 | $1,366 | 110.7 | $47,981 | 107.1 |
| 11 | Maine | $48,120 | $1,633 | 97.0 | $47,900 | 106.9 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $42,430 | — | 88.6 | $47,897 | 106.9 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $49,110 | — | 104.2 | $47,146 | 105.3 |
| 14 | Michigan | $46,750 | $1,740 | 96.2 | $46,779 | 104.4 |
| 15 | Kansas | $43,700 | $1,639 | 90.1 | $46,699 | 104.3 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $45,150 | $1,377 | 94.3 | $46,406 | 103.6 |
| 17 | Arizona | $47,040 | $701 | 100.7 | $46,027 | 102.8 |
| 18 | Maryland | $50,070 | $2,046 | 105.0 | $45,755 | 102.2 |
| 19 | Washington | $48,840 | — | 107.0 | $45,639 | 101.9 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $48,270 | $1,247 | 103.6 | $45,384 | 101.3 |
| 21 | Florida | $46,830 | — | 103.4 | $45,284 | 101.1 |
| 22 | Indiana | $43,490 | $1,275 | 93.3 | $45,233 | 101.0 |
| 23 | Texas | $43,640 | — | 97.1 | $44,963 | 100.4 |
| 24 | Oregon | $50,020 | $3,573 | 103.4 | $44,937 | 100.3 |
| 25 | Illinois | $47,100 | $2,190 | 100.0 | $44,928 | 100.3 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $49,750 | $2,268 | 105.8 | $44,898 | 100.2 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $45,050 | $1,383 | 97.6 | $44,754 | 99.9 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $50,790 | $1,947 | 109.9 | $44,442 | 99.2 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $46,500 | $1,144 | 102.3 | $44,345 | 99.0 |
| 30 | New Jersey | $49,050 | $1,162 | 108.8 | $44,012 | 98.3 |
| 31 | Colorado | $46,260 | $1,375 | 103.1 | $43,555 | 97.2 |
| 32 | Missouri | $40,290 | $1,013 | 90.8 | $43,249 | 96.6 |
| 33 | Ohio | $40,350 | $327 | 92.8 | $43,140 | 96.3 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $38,750 | $788 | 88.2 | $43,038 | 96.1 |
| 35 | New York | $48,440 | $2,059 | 107.9 | $42,977 | 96.0 |
| 36 | Delaware | $44,540 | $1,795 | 99.8 | $42,827 | 95.6 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $38,890 | — | 91.9 | $42,332 | 94.5 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $40,400 | $897 | 93.7 | $42,137 | 94.1 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $37,920 | $1,264 | 87.8 | $41,729 | 93.2 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $38,990 | $1,429 | 90.2 | $41,661 | 93.0 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,340 | $1,248 | 86.9 | $41,515 | 92.7 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $38,610 | $740 | 92.2 | $41,068 | 91.7 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $36,220 | $788 | 87.0 | $40,748 | 91.0 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $36,730 | $990 | 89.5 | $39,934 | 89.2 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,680 | $1,569 | 88.8 | $39,529 | 88.3 |
| 46 | Georgia | $39,150 | $1,463 | 96.3 | $39,137 | 87.4 |
| 47 | Idaho | $38,280 | $1,060 | 95.5 | $38,977 | 87.0 |
| 48 | Virginia | $40,920 | $1,553 | 101.1 | $38,937 | 86.9 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $35,740 | — | 92.7 | $38,558 | 86.1 |
| 50 | Nevada | $37,660 | — | 100.0 | $37,668 | 84.1 |
| 51 | Utah | $35,950 | $1,636 | 98.9 | $34,709 | 77.5 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Minnesota, a $63,080 salary is worth about $57,662 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $6,213 (≈ top marginal 9.85% (upper bound)) · take-home $56,867 · BEA cost of living 98.6 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $71,208, a $13,546 gain over Minnesota.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $71,208 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $69,729 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $69,368 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $69,353 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $69,145 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $69,136 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $68,662 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $68,399 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $68,054 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $67,467 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $67,167 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $67,086 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a ophthalmic medical technicians?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Minnesota is the best state for a ophthalmic medical technicians: a BLS median of $63,080 is worth $61,122 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,801) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 98.6), an index of 136.5 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Minnesota has the highest headline BLS median for a ophthalmic medical technicians at $63,080, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 136.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a ophthalmic medical technicians salary go least far?
- Utah ranks last of 51 states for a ophthalmic medical technicians: a $35,950 BLS median is worth only $34,709 after tax and cost of living (index 77.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a ophthalmic medical technicians is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.