Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Career, Salary and Skills
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $50,290 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 182,610. Wage data is published for 391 locations.
Occupation 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.
O*NET code
29-2099.05
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$50,290
Hourly median
$24.18
Employment
182,610
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Service Orientation | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Instructing | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.12 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses.
- Conduct low vision blindness tests.
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
- 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.
- Take and document patients' medical histories.
Technology
- AcuityPro
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- Email software
- EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems EyeMD EMR
- ezChartWriter
- Hypertext preprocessor PHP
- iChartPlus
- JavaScript
- Medflow Complete
- MediPro Medisoft Clinical
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Ophthalmic Medical Technologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in CAMedian $60,390 · Employment 26,540
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in TXMedian $47,870 · Employment 15,370
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in PAMedian $46,720 · Employment 13,200
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $61,440 · Employment 12,400
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in NYMedian $60,320 · Employment 11,910
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in FLMedian $45,760 · Employment 10,130
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $59,210 · Employment 9,940
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in OHMedian $47,570 · Employment 8,590
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in NCMedian $46,480 · Employment 6,640
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in GAMedian $49,310 · Employment 6,360
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in MOMedian $46,040 · Employment 5,900
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists Salary in MIMedian $48,520 · Employment 5,870
Related careers
- DermatologistsNational median $328,730
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory TechnologistsNational median not published
- Radiation TherapistsNational median $105,310
- RadiologistsNational median $420,860
- OptometristsNational median $136,570
- Anesthesiologist AssistantsNational median $135,880
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricNational median $358,550
- Pediatric SurgeonsNational median $559,030
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.