Healthcare Support Quick Entry High Demand

Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

SOC 29-2057

$44,080
Median Pay / yr
20%
High Demand
~6.6K
Openings / yr
6-12 months
Time to Entry

How Much Does an Ophthalmic Medical Technician Make?

The national median salary for an Ophthalmic Medical Technician is $44,080 per year ($21.19/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).

That's 33% below the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.

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How to Become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Education Required
Certificate
Typical Entry Path

Certificate or OJT. JCAHPO certification available.

Required Licenses & Certifications

JCAHPO certification (COA/COT/COMT) at progressive levels

Time to Entry-Level
6-12 months

This career has relatively low barriers to entry compared to similar roles.

Ophthalmic Medical Technician Job Outlook

Much faster than avg — the BLS projects 20% growth from 2024 to 2034.

That's significantly faster than the average across all occupations (4%).

About 6,600 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.

Aging population; eye care demand

What It's Like to Work as an Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Physical Demands
Low

This is primarily desk-based or low-physical-effort work.

Remote Work
Very Low

This role typically requires in-person work at a specific location.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.

View on BLS.gov