Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for ophthalmic medical technicians in the U.S. is $45,570 ($21.91 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $45,570
- Mean annual wage
- $47,060
- Median hourly wage
- $21.91
- Employment
- 71,010
71,010 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,700 | $17.17 |
| 25th percentile | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Median (50th) | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| 75th percentile | $51,390 | $24.71 |
| 90th percentile | $61,940 | $29.78 |
Highest-paying states for ophthalmic medical technicians
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $63,080 | 720 |
| Hawaii | $58,240 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $56,420 | 1,260 |
| California | $54,490 | 2,500 |
| District of Columbia | $50,790 | — |
| Vermont | $50,090 | 150 |
| Maryland | $50,070 | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $50,020 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $49,970 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $49,750 | 2,330 |
Lowest-paying states
- Wyoming: $35,740 median annual wage
- Utah: $35,950 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $36,220 median annual wage
- Alabama: $36,680 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $36,730 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes.
- Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment.
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.
- Assist patients to select eyewear.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Postsecondary certificate
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 10.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.0% |
| Some college, no degree | 22.0% |
| Associate's degree | 10.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 13.2% |
| Master's degree | 3.7% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.