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Ophthalmic assistant: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,570median pay per year, or $21.91 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,700lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,17025th percentile
  3. $45,570median
  4. $51,39075th percentile
  5. $61,940top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Ophthalmic medical technicians, the official category that includes an ophthalmic assistant, had a median pay of $45,570 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 21.4% from 2025 to 2035, far above the rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+21.4%[2]
Openings per year
11,800[6]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[7]

How much do ophthalmic assistants make?

The median wage was $45,570 a year, or $21.91 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $47,060 a year, or $22.63 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980, so this job's median sat below it[1][5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,700, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $38,170[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $51,390, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $61,940[4]. BLS does not publish a starting salary. It publishes percentile boundaries[9].

Per hour, the 10th percentile was $17.17, the 25th was $18.35, the 75th was $24.71 and the 90th was $29.78[10].

These wages cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

Among 50 states and DC with published data, Minnesota had the highest median at $63,080, then Hawaii at $58,240, Wisconsin at $56,420 and California at $54,490[12]. Wyoming had the lowest listed median at $35,740[12].

The states with the most jobs were Florida (7,020), Texas (6,540), New York (4,250), New Jersey (4,150) and Illinois (3,250)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC had the highest median at $65,000[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $63,300[14], then Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI at $63,080[14]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the most jobs at 5,670, then Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at 2,390[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Minnesota[12]$63,080720
Hawaii$58,240190
Wisconsin$56,4201,260
California$54,4902,500
District of Columbia$50,790n/a
Vermont$50,090150
Maryland$50,0701,300
Oregon$50,0201,060
Alaska$49,97090
Massachusetts$49,7502,330
New Hampshire$49,110300
New Jersey$49,0504,150
Washington$48,8401,250
New York$48,4404,250
Connecticut$48,270780
Maine$48,120320
Montana$47,290380
Illinois$47,1003,250
Arizona$47,0401,630
Florida$46,8307,020
Michigan$46,7501,800
Rhode Island$46,500410
Colorado$46,2601,470
North Dakota$46,190220
Nebraska$45,210530
North Carolina$45,1501,630
Pennsylvania$45,0502,890
Delaware$44,540n/a
Iowa$44,030500
Kansas$43,700630
Texas$43,6406,540
Indiana$43,4901,610
South Dakota$42,430300
Virginia$40,9201,540
South Carolina$40,4001,470
Ohio$40,3502,510
Missouri$40,290960
Georgia$39,1502,570
Kentucky$38,9901,570
Tennessee$38,8901,760
Louisiana$38,750890
New Mexico$38,610400
Idaho$38,280230
Oklahoma$37,920980
Nevada$37,660960
Arkansas$37,340540
West Virginia$36,730260
Alabama$36,6801,260
Mississippi$36,220690
Utah$35,950680
Wyoming$35,740110

How to become an ophthalmic assistant

BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[7].

In an ONET survey of 22 workers, 59% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 27% said a postsecondary certificate and 9% said an associate's degree[16]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, where previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is needed[17].

The facts here do not say how long training takes or what it costs.

What ophthalmic assistants do

O*NET says these workers assist ophthalmologists with clinical tasks. They may give eye exams and eye medications, and teach patients to care for and use corrective lenses[18]. Common tasks include:

Workers report titles such as ophthalmic assistant, ophthalmic medical assistant and certified ophthalmic technician[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 21.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 72,500 to 88,000 jobs, a gain of 15,500[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include the self-employed, so they differ from the 71,010 wage and salary jobs in the wage survey[21][2]. Only 0.4% were self-employed in 2025[22].

About 11,800 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings come from workers who leave or switch occupations as well as from new jobs[6]. Each year 5.3% of workers leave the labor force and 7.5% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is a little below the all-occupation median[1][5]. The usual entry route is a postsecondary nondegree award with no related experience[7]. Projected growth is far faster than for all occupations[2][3]. The facts here do not cover tuition, program length or certification.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an ophthalmic assistant make an hour?
The median was $21.91 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $22.63[1][8].
What education do you need to be an ophthalmic assistant?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education[7].
Is ophthalmic assisting in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 21.4% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 11,800 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for ophthalmic assistants?
Minnesota had the highest state median at $63,080, then Hawaii at $58,240[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in the US was $45,570 per year and $21.91 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is projected to grow 21.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 72,500 to 88,000 jobs (a change of +15,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: 10th percentile $35,700, 25th percentile $38,170, 75th percentile $51,390, 90th percentile $61,940. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 11,800 openings for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians was $47,060 per year and $22.63 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: 10th percentile $17.17, 25th percentile $18.35, 75th percentile $24.71, 90th percentile $29.78. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Ophthalmic Medical Technicians jobs: Florida 7,020; Texas 6,540; New York 4,250; New Jersey 4,150; Illinois 3,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $65,000; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $63,300; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $63,080; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $61,580; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $60,440; Bend, OR $59,990; Madison, WI $59,180; Urban Honolulu, HI $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Ophthalmic Medical Technicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 5,670 (median $55,100); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,390 (median $50,010); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,310 (median $49,950); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,880 (median $49,710); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,740 (median $52,670); Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 1,570 (median $46,640). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 29-2057.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 59%, Post-Secondary Certificate 27%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 29-2057.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 29-2057.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech), Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA), Health Technician (Health Tech), Ophthalmic Assistant, Ophthalmic Diagnostic Sonographer, Ophthalmic Medical Assistant. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 71,010 people were employed as Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  22. BLS Employment Projections: 0.4% of Ophthalmic Medical Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: 5.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.