SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 29-2057.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $35,700 | $2,975 | $687 | $17.17 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $38,170 | $3,181 | $734 | $18.35 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $45,570 | $3,798 | $876 | $21.91 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $51,390 | $4,282 | $988 | $24.71 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $61,940 | $5,162 | $1,191 | $29.78 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is $45,570, which is 11% lower. Among the 71 occupations of the field Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks number 68 by median pay. With 71,010 jobs, it makes up about 4.6 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians pay by state
The highest median pay was in Minnesota ($63,080), Hawaii ($58,240) and Wisconsin ($56,420). The lowest was in Puerto Rico ($31,630), Wyoming ($35,740) and Utah ($35,950). The most jobs were in Florida (7,020), Texas (6,540) and New York (4,250). The occupation is most concentrated in New Jersey, where its share of all jobs is 2.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 720 | $63,080 | $63,580 | $30.33 |
| Hawaii | 190 | $58,240 | $55,240 | $28.00 |
| Wisconsin | 1,260 | $56,420 | $54,920 | $27.13 |
| California | 2,500 | $54,490 | $63,030 | $26.20 |
| District of Columbia | not published | $50,790 | $53,130 | $24.42 |
| Vermont | 150 | $50,090 | $53,720 | $24.08 |
| Maryland | 1,300 | $50,070 | $52,580 | $24.07 |
| Oregon | 1,060 | $50,020 | $54,810 | $24.05 |
| Alaska | 90 | $49,970 | $56,900 | $24.02 |
| Massachusetts | 2,330 | $49,750 | $55,210 | $23.92 |
| New Hampshire | 300 | $49,110 | $51,940 | $23.61 |
| New Jersey | 4,150 | $49,050 | $50,720 | $23.58 |
| Washington | 1,250 | $48,840 | $54,160 | $23.48 |
| New York | 4,250 | $48,440 | $52,110 | $23.29 |
| Connecticut | 780 | $48,270 | $52,160 | $23.21 |
| Maine | 320 | $48,120 | $49,180 | $23.14 |
| Montana | 380 | $47,290 | $48,900 | $22.74 |
| Illinois | 3,250 | $47,100 | $46,500 | $22.64 |
| Arizona | 1,630 | $47,040 | $46,220 | $22.61 |
| Florida | 7,020 | $46,830 | $46,310 | $22.51 |
| Michigan | 1,800 | $46,750 | $46,660 | $22.48 |
| Rhode Island | 410 | $46,500 | $49,190 | $22.36 |
| Colorado | 1,470 | $46,260 | $50,090 | $22.24 |
| North Dakota | 220 | $46,190 | $46,040 | $22.21 |
| Nebraska | 530 | $45,210 | $44,230 | $21.74 |
| North Carolina | 1,630 | $45,150 | $46,080 | $21.71 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,890 | $45,050 | $45,110 | $21.66 |
| Delaware | not published | $44,540 | $44,970 | $21.42 |
| Iowa | 500 | $44,030 | $45,940 | $21.17 |
| Kansas | 630 | $43,700 | $43,470 | $21.01 |
| Texas | 6,540 | $43,640 | $44,080 | $20.98 |
| Indiana | 1,610 | $43,490 | $43,110 | $20.91 |
| South Dakota | 300 | $42,430 | $44,330 | $20.40 |
| Virginia | 1,540 | $40,920 | $42,870 | $19.68 |
| South Carolina | 1,470 | $40,400 | $42,110 | $19.42 |
| Ohio | 2,510 | $40,350 | $42,860 | $19.40 |
| Missouri | 960 | $40,290 | $41,620 | $19.37 |
| Georgia | 2,570 | $39,150 | $42,910 | $18.82 |
| Kentucky | 1,570 | $38,990 | $40,630 | $18.75 |
| Tennessee | 1,760 | $38,890 | $43,190 | $18.70 |
| Louisiana | 890 | $38,750 | $41,730 | $18.63 |
| New Mexico | 400 | $38,610 | $42,920 | $18.56 |
| Idaho | 230 | $38,280 | $40,420 | $18.41 |
| Oklahoma | 980 | $37,920 | $39,110 | $18.23 |
| Nevada | 960 | $37,660 | $41,090 | $18.11 |
| Arkansas | 540 | $37,340 | $39,110 | $17.95 |
| West Virginia | 260 | $36,730 | $37,500 | $17.66 |
| Alabama | 1,260 | $36,680 | $37,920 | $17.63 |
| Mississippi | 690 | $36,220 | $36,980 | $17.41 |
| Utah | 680 | $35,950 | $38,680 | $17.29 |
| Wyoming | 110 | $35,740 | $38,940 | $17.18 |
| Puerto Rico | not published | $31,630 | $32,640 | $15.21 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,380 a year
- Opticians, Dispensing$47,260 a year
- Pharmacy Technicians$45,750 a year
- Psychiatric Technicians$45,130 a year
- Emergency Medical Technicians$44,470 a year
- Dietetic Technicians$37,640 a year
Common questions
How much do Ophthalmic Medical Technicians earn in the United States?
The median pay was $45,570 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,700 and the highest-paid 10% more than $61,940.
How many people work as Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?
About 71,010 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
More in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Pay converter