Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services at Erie Community College
NY · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.18
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services degree from Erie Community College earn a median salary of $48,401 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $36,667. The degree typically pays for itself in 16.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$38,705
Typical Career
$48,401
Top Performers
$56,934
Estimated break-even: 16.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$323
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,033. Most students can comfortably afford about a $323 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Manufacturing.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$36,667
Nominal: $48,401 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $28,815 | $36,753 | $46,694 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $38,705 | $48,401 | $56,934 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $36,766 | $51,670 | $59,105 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $48,401 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $48,401 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $36,667 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program primarily prepares graduates for careers in Health Care & Social Assistance, with 28.7% and 28.0% of graduates entering this sector, alongside 13.4% in Public Administration. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 16.1 years, suggesting that while the return on investment may take time to realize, the stability and growth potential in these industries can offer a solid career foundation. Overall, students can expect a gradual increase in earnings, although the initial years may require careful financial planning due to the extended break-even period.
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See how the Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services degree at Erie Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Erie Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.