Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 29-2057 · National · May 2024 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$44,075
$21.19/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated Apr 3, 2025
Source: BLS OEWS · Published Apr 2, 2025
Next refresh: May 15, 2026
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The national median salary for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is $44,075 per year ($21.19/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024. The middle 50% of earners make between $37,107 and $49,733 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $60,819 per year. There are approximately 76,520 ophthalmic medical technicians employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+19.8%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
13K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
79K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
12% from new growth88% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Offices of Physicians
NAICS 621100
46K
$46,160
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
NAICS 621300
21K
$37,620
Health and Personal Care Retailers
NAICS 456100
3K
$35,960
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
3K
$60,680
Outpatient Care Centers
NAICS 621400
1K
$61,210
Wage range across top 5 industries: $35,960 to $61,210 (70% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$16.45
$34,216
P25
$17.84
$37,107
P50MEDIAN
$21.19
$44,075
P75
$23.91
$49,733
P90
$29.24
$60,819
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · health sector
Hot
Openings Rate
5.4%
Quits Rate
1.9%
Health Care & Social Assistance openings rebounded to 1.36M (+87K) in March with rate at 5.4%. Hires rose to 700K (+75K). The sector remains structurally tight; compensation pressure persists for clinical roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average ophthalmic medical technicians salary?
The national median salary for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is $44,075 per year ($21.19/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2024 data. The middle 50% earn between $37,107 and $49,733 annually.
How much do top-earning ophthalmic medical technicians make?
The 90th percentile salary for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is $60,819 per year ($29.24/hr). The 75th percentile is $49,733 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for ophthalmic medical technicians?
Entry-level Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (10th percentile) earn approximately $34,216 per year ($16.45/hr). The 25th percentile is $37,107 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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