Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services at Portland Community College
OR · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.18
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services degree from Portland Community College earn a median salary of $55,984 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $48,980. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.5 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
$39,950
Typical Career
$55,984
Top Performers
$65,759
Estimated break-even: 9.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$373
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,665. Most students can comfortably afford about a $373 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Educational Services.
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
$48,980
Nominal: $55,984 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% 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 | $41,907 | $48,296 | $55,335 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,950 | $55,984 | $65,759 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $44,737 | $60,219 | $69,727 |
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 $55,984 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $55,984 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430)
= $48,980 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program prepares graduates primarily for roles in the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, which account for 24.0% and 22.5% of employment, respectively, alongside a significant presence in Manufacturing at 16.4%. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 9.5 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment appears favorable for those entering this field. The combination of a solid career trajectory and strong industry demand suggests that pursuing this program could lead to a stable and rewarding career.
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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.