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Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$47,100
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$46,495
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Ophthalmic Medical Technicians earning $47,100 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $46,495 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $36,190 $35,725 $-464
25th Percentile (P25) $38,060 $37,571 $-488
Median (P50) $47,100 $46,495 $-604
75th Percentile (P75) $50,490 $49,842 $-647
90th Percentile (P90) $60,490 $59,713 $-776
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $47,100 keeps most of its value at $46,495 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $47,100 nominal nets out to $46,496 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Ophthalmic Medical Technicians.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#21 / 51

Illinois sits at #21 of 51 states for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (After Cost of Living)

Where does Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$64,564
RPP 97.7
$61,126
RPP 92.3
3. Hawaii
$52,563
RPP 110.8
4. Montana
$52,369
RPP 90.3
$52,074
RPP 88.7
$50,345
RPP 89.8
$50,053
RPP 93.4
8. Iowa
$49,807
RPP 88.4
9. Vermont
$49,545
RPP 101.1
10. Alaska
$48,990
RPP 102.0

Illinois ranks #21 out of 51 states for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Ophthalmic Medical Technicians take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Illinois after cost of living?

A Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Illinois earns a median salary of $47,100 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $46,495 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Illinois: $47,100 x (100 / 101.3) = $46,495. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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