Ophthalmic Medical Technologists: Job Description
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.
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What Tasks Do Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of ophthalmic medical technologists span:
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers.
- Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
- Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.
What Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Need to Know
Top ophthalmic medical technologists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Angiographer
- Angiography Technologist
- Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS)
- Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT)
- Certified Ophthalmic Technologist
- Certified Retinal Angiographer
- Medical Technologist
- Ocular Care Technologist
Job Outlook
There are about 2,658,986 ophthalmic medical technologists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +9.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $153,819 |
| Hourly median | $73.95 |
| 10th percentile | $88,602 |
| 25th percentile | $121,211 |
| 75th percentile | $186,427 |
| 90th percentile | $219,035 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $65,560 |
| Delaware | $64,860 |
| Washington | $59,960 |
| Kansas | $59,780 |
| Maine | $58,820 |
| California | $58,310 |
| Oregon | $58,240 |
| Massachusetts | $58,210 |
| New York | $57,690 |
| Hawaii | $56,260 |
| New Jersey | $56,100 |
| Rhode Island | $55,840 |
| New Hampshire | $55,350 |
| Arizona | $55,200 |
| Minnesota | $55,070 |
| Colorado | $54,080 |
| Montana | $53,450 |
| District of Columbia | $53,020 |
| Vermont | $52,470 |
| South Dakota | $51,460 |
| Georgia | $51,020 |
| Alaska | $49,900 |
| Kentucky | $49,900 |
| Illinois | $49,570 |
| Wisconsin | $49,370 |
| Nevada | $49,270 |
| Connecticut | $49,120 |
| West Virginia | $49,000 |
| Virginia | $48,380 |
| Michigan | $47,550 |
| Texas | $47,410 |
| Indiana | $47,300 |
| Idaho | $47,130 |
| Tennessee | $47,000 |
| Ohio | $46,730 |
| Maryland | $46,550 |
| New Mexico | $46,440 |
| North Dakota | $46,020 |
| Iowa | $46,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,700 |
| North Carolina | $45,100 |
| Nebraska | $44,480 |
| Utah | $44,360 |
| Florida | $43,980 |
| Alabama | $43,370 |
| Missouri | $41,860 |
| Oklahoma | $41,080 |
| South Carolina | $40,420 |
| Arkansas | $39,260 |
| Mississippi | $38,290 |
| Louisiana | $37,630 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,400 |
Where Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Earn the Most
Earnings for ophthalmic medical technologists shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $57,645 | 19.4% | 1.21 |
| New England | $56,248 | 4.2% | 0.93 |
| Middle Atlantic | $52,050 | 15.6% | 1.12 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,355 | 2.9% | 0.76 |
| Great Lakes | $47,965 | 14.9% | 1.12 |
| Southwest | $47,761 | 11.8% | 0.94 |
| Plains States | $46,192 | 7.1% | 1.28 |
| Southeast | $44,657 | 23.6% | 1.07 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $74,600 | 1,330 |
| Topeka, KS | KS | $71,680 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $70,850 | 2,990 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $69,340 | 90 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | AZ | $66,800 | 60 |
| Albany, OR | OR | $66,300 | 40 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $64,910 | 240 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | KY | $64,530 | 570 |
Which Industries Hire Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
The bulk of ophthalmic medical technologists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 155,430 | $48,230 |
| Educational Services | 3,190 | $61,290 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 3,170 | $51,750 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,670 | $49,320 |
| Finance and Insurance | 1,340 | $53,250 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,310 | $62,190 |
| Retail Trade | 900 | $47,610 |
| Wholesale Trade | 880 | $58,760 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of ophthalmic medical technologists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Typical ophthalmic medical technologists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Radiologists (Supplemental)
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future ophthalmic medical technologists often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
14 programs across 3 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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: 29-2099.05 (Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other).
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