SOC 29-2057 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians — Florence
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL · 9 metro areas compared
In Florence, AL the median wage is $34,570.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow much faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +19.8%
- Openings per year
- 12,500
- Typical entry-level education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In Florence, AL the median wage is $34,570. That is 24.1% lower than the national median of $45,570. Pay ranges from under $27,930 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,810 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,310 to $36,600.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Decatur records the highest median at $38,820. Of the 219 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 169th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,930 | −38.7% |
| 25th | $29,310 | −35.7% |
| Median (50th) | $34,570 | −24.1% |
| 75th | $36,600 | −19.7% |
| 90th | $44,810 | −1.7% |
| Mean | $35,070 | −23.0% |
Other metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $38,820 | 40 | |
| 2 | Birmingham | $37,270 | 340 | |
| 3 | Auburn | $37,220 | 40 | |
| 4 | Huntsville | $37,020 | 160 | |
| 5 | Mobile | $37,000 | 60 | |
| 6 | Montgomery | $35,690 | 80 | |
| 7 | Tuscaloosa | $35,590 | 60 | |
| 8 | Dothan | $35,550 | 110 | |
| 9 | Daphne | $35,300 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florence run 15.2% below the national average, so the median of $34,570 goes as far as $40,767 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,570as reported by BLSLocal price level
84.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,767US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,570 a year, 24.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,930 to $44,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Decatur, at $38,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Florence, AL?
The median annual wage is $34,570, or $16.62 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $45,570, so pay in Florence, AL is 24.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Florence, AL earns more than $44,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,930 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Decatur, at $38,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Florence, AL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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