Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: Career Overview
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Do?
The core tasks performed by ophthalmic medical technicians cover:
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful ophthalmic medical technicians combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech)
- Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)
- Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA)
- Certified Retinal Angiographer
- Eyecare Advisor
- Health Technician (Health Tech)
- Medical Technician (Medical Tech)
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 634,631 ophthalmic medical technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.2% over the projection horizon.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $51,958 |
| Hourly median | $24.98 |
| 10th percentile | $33,686 |
| 25th percentile | $42,822 |
| 75th percentile | $61,093 |
| 90th percentile | $70,229 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $60,810 |
| Wisconsin | $50,660 |
| Vermont | $49,080 |
| Washington | $48,960 |
| Oregon | $48,730 |
| Connecticut | $48,520 |
| California | $47,940 |
| Maryland | $47,490 |
| New Jersey | $47,460 |
| Massachusetts | $47,450 |
| New Hampshire | $47,240 |
| Montana | $47,110 |
| New York | $46,910 |
| Hawaii | $46,850 |
| Alaska | $46,780 |
| Rhode Island | $46,090 |
| District of Columbia | $45,860 |
| Maine | $45,640 |
| Florida | $45,300 |
| Michigan | $45,070 |
| North Dakota | $44,970 |
| Colorado | $44,820 |
| Illinois | $44,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,620 |
| Nebraska | $44,600 |
| Iowa | $44,160 |
| Indiana | $43,200 |
| Arizona | $41,790 |
| Delaware | $41,730 |
| Virginia | $41,600 |
| West Virginia | $41,600 |
| North Carolina | $40,990 |
| Ohio | $40,000 |
| Louisiana | $39,100 |
| South Carolina | $38,840 |
| Idaho | $38,830 |
| Texas | $38,770 |
| South Dakota | $38,760 |
| Kansas | $38,750 |
| Kentucky | $38,740 |
| Tennessee | $38,720 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,050 |
| Georgia | $37,900 |
| Nevada | $37,630 |
| New Mexico | $37,510 |
| Missouri | $36,600 |
| Alabama | $36,260 |
| Arkansas | $36,160 |
| Utah | $36,000 |
| Mississippi | $35,960 |
| Oklahoma | $35,800 |
| Wyoming | $31,720 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for ophthalmic medical technicians differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $47,750 | 9.8% | 0.72 |
| New England | $47,450 | 6.8% | 1.59 |
| Middle Atlantic | $46,448 | 16.8% | 1.17 |
| Plains States | $45,318 | 5.8% | 0.97 |
| Great Lakes | $43,868 | 13.5% | 0.96 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,346 | 4.1% | 1.12 |
| Southeast | $40,987 | 29.7% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $39,136 | 13.2% | 1.06 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $101,440 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $60,810 | 730 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $58,790 | 700 |
| Eau Claire, WI | WI | $57,930 | 60 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $57,600 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $55,220 | 540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $54,680 | 730 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $52,620 | 1,200 |
Top Industries Employing Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Most ophthalmic medical technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 71,810 | $44,440 |
| Retail Trade | 3,120 | $35,960 |
| Educational Services | 720 | $57,320 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 310 | $54,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 180 | $47,440 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for ophthalmic medical technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Education and Training
Entry-level ophthalmic medical technicians positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Supplemental)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring ophthalmic medical technicians often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
3 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2057.00 (Ophthalmic Medical Technicians).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.