Ophthalmic Medical Technician salary in the U.S.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $45,570 a year ($21.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 71,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,940 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $47,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmic medical technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,700 | $17.17 |
| 25th percentile | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Median | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| 75th percentile | $51,390 | $24.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Average (mean) | $47,060 | $22.63 |
Half of ophthalmic medical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,797.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,898.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,752.69 |
| Weekly | $876.35 |
| Hourly | $21.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ophthalmic Medical Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $63,080 | 720 |
| Hawaii | $58,240 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $56,420 | 1,260 |
| California | $54,490 | 2,500 |
| District of Columbia | $50,790 | n/a |
| Vermont | $50,090 | 150 |
| Maryland | $50,070 | 1,300 |
| Oregon | $50,020 | 1,060 |
| Alaska | $49,970 | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $49,750 | 2,330 |
| New Hampshire | $49,110 | 300 |
| New Jersey | $49,050 | 4,150 |
| Washington | $48,840 | 1,250 |
| New York | $48,440 | 4,250 |
| Connecticut | $48,270 | 780 |
| Maine | $48,120 | 320 |
| Montana | $47,290 | 380 |
| Illinois | $47,100 | 3,250 |
| Arizona | $47,040 | 1,630 |
| Florida | $46,830 | 7,020 |
| Michigan | $46,750 | 1,800 |
| Rhode Island | $46,500 | 410 |
| Colorado | $46,260 | 1,470 |
| North Dakota | $46,190 | 220 |
| Nebraska | $45,210 | 530 |
| North Carolina | $45,150 | 1,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,050 | 2,890 |
| Delaware | $44,540 | n/a |
| Iowa | $44,030 | 500 |
| Kansas | $43,700 | 630 |
| Texas | $43,640 | 6,540 |
| Indiana | $43,490 | 1,610 |
| South Dakota | $42,430 | 300 |
| Virginia | $40,920 | 1,540 |
| South Carolina | $40,400 | 1,470 |
| Ohio | $40,350 | 2,510 |
| Missouri | $40,290 | 960 |
| Georgia | $39,150 | 2,570 |
| Kentucky | $38,990 | 1,570 |
| Tennessee | $38,890 | 1,760 |
| Louisiana | $38,750 | 890 |
| New Mexico | $38,610 | 400 |
| Idaho | $38,280 | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $37,920 | 980 |
| Nevada | $37,660 | 960 |
| Arkansas | $37,340 | 540 |
| West Virginia | $36,730 | 260 |
| Alabama | $36,680 | 1,260 |
| Mississippi | $36,220 | 690 |
| Utah | $35,950 | 680 |
| Wyoming | $35,740 | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,630 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for ophthalmic medical technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $102,540 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $65,000 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,300 | 420 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,080 | 450 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,390 | n/a |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $61,880 | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,580 | 300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,600 | n/a |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,440 | 310 |
| Bend, OR | $59,990 | 100 |
| Madison, WI | $59,180 | 220 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $58,240 | 160 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $56,010 | 100 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $55,710 | 80 |
| Ithaca, NY | $55,570 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most ophthalmic medical technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,670 | $55,100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,390 | $50,010 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,310 | $49,950 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,880 | $49,710 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,740 | $52,670 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,570 | $46,640 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,540 | $39,150 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,150 | $48,830 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,100 | $46,450 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,050 | $46,990 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,040 | $38,240 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 940 | $47,210 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 920 | $48,050 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 840 | $47,290 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 770 | $37,570 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $24.59 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $24.18 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | $46.44 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2057. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ophthalmic medical technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for ophthalmic medical technicians in the U.S. is $45,570 a year, or $21.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmic medical technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of ophthalmic medical technicians in the U.S. earn at least $61,940 a year. The top 25% earn $51,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmic medical technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,700 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmic medical technicians earn $38,170 or less.
How many ophthalmic medical technicians work in the U.S.?
About 71,010 ophthalmic medical technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.