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Ophthalmic Technician Careers: Job Duties, Education & Certification

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By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: July 9, 2026

Home » Specialties » Ophthalmic Technician

Key Takeaways

  • Ophthalmic technicians support ophthalmologists by obtaining medical histories and measuring eye pressure.
  • Education requirements include a GED and completion of a CAAHEP-accredited OT program or a relevant associate degree.
  • Certification by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology may be required by employers.

Ophthalmic Technician Facts and Figures

  • What you’ll do: Once you become an ophthalmic technician, you’ll work right along side an ophthalmologist as they help patients with eye disorders, vision measurements for glasses, eye muscle exercises and the prevention of blindness. You’ll also obtain medical histories from patients, administer diagnostic tests, provide contact lens instruction, administer eye medicine, and maintain optical instruments.
  • Where you’ll work: Ophthalmic technicians and ophthalmic technologists work in ophthalmologists’ offices.
  • Degree you’ll need: Associate degree plus one-year certificate or diploma
  • Median annual salary: $45,570

What Is an Ophthalmic Technician?

An ophthalmic technician plays a crucial role in supporting ophthalmologists. They assist in various tasks such as obtaining medical histories, measuring eye pressure and visual acuity, operating specialized equipment, and educating patients on topics like proper administration of eye medications.

Ophthalmic Technologist Job Description

As an ophthalmic technologist, you perform all duties performed by opticians and optometric technicians, but you have more training and expanded responsibilities. Your additional responsibilities may include the following:

  • Assisting the ophthalmologist in surgery
  • Performing ophthalmic clinical photography and fluorescence angiography, as well as electrophysiological and microbiological procedures
  • Supervising other ophthalmic staff

Ophthalmic Technician and Technologist Education

In addition to having your GED or high school diploma, you need to complete a CAAHEP-accredited OT program, usually a 1-year certificate or diploma for assistants and technicians or a 2-year associate degree for technologists.

Coursework for Ophthalmic Techs

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Ophthalmic optics
  • Medical terminology
  • Microbiology
  • Medical laws and ethics
  • Ophthalmic pharmacology and toxicology
  • Psychology
  • Ocular motility
  • Ocular anatomy and physiology
  • Diseases of the eye

You’ll also gain plenty of hands-on clinical experience.

Ophthalmic Technician and Technologist Certification

Certification regulations vary from state-to-state, however many employers consider it a requirement for employment. The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) offers national certification and testing for OTs on three different levels, plus subspecialty certification:

  • Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) – entry level
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) – intermediate level
  • Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) – advanced level

The subspecialty of ophthalmic surgical assisting requires certification in one of the three core levels.

Ophthalmic Tech Salaries

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 data reports median annual salaries for ophthalmic medical techs and ophthalmic lab techs. Take a look at the median annual wage for these two fields.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

National data

Median Salary: $45,570

Projected job growth: 19.8%

10th Percentile: $35,700

25th Percentile: $38,170

75th Percentile: $51,390

90th Percentile: $61,940

Projected job growth: 19.8%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $36,680 $29,120 $47,690
Alaska $49,970 $44,480 $69,680
Arizona $47,040 $38,370 $55,300
Arkansas $37,340 $30,210 $47,160
California $54,490 $38,780 $101,700
Colorado $46,260 $37,150 $65,790
Connecticut $48,270 $40,200 $65,820
Delaware $44,540 $33,610 $63,250
District of Columbia $50,790 $37,760 $64,400
Florida $46,830 $36,330 $59,100
Georgia $39,150 $34,180 $60,010
Hawaii $58,240 $40,370 $64,850
Idaho $38,280 $34,760 $49,440
Illinois $47,100 $36,190 $60,490
Indiana $43,490 $34,990 $57,130
Iowa $44,030 $36,860 $58,610
Kansas $43,700 $32,710 $58,760
Kentucky $38,990 $30,320 $51,840
Louisiana $38,750 $31,130 $51,630
Maine $48,120 $39,370 $61,230
Maryland $50,070 $39,460 $66,820
Massachusetts $49,750 $38,480 $80,220
Michigan $46,750 $37,270 $59,170
Minnesota $63,080 $46,080 $83,330
Mississippi $36,220 $29,480 $45,140
Missouri $40,290 $31,470 $50,530
Montana $47,290 $35,420 $64,370
Nebraska $45,210 $37,330 $53,350
Nevada $37,660 $35,530 $49,360
New Hampshire $49,110 $39,380 $63,930
New Jersey $49,050 $39,970 $58,250
New Mexico $38,610 $35,250 $58,630
New York $48,440 $39,100 $68,510
North Carolina $45,150 $36,260 $61,970
North Dakota $46,190 $39,110 $59,920
Ohio $40,350 $34,570 $53,420
Oklahoma $37,920 $29,330 $48,260
Oregon $50,020 $40,670 $67,210
Pennsylvania $45,050 $36,300 $55,900
Rhode Island $46,500 $39,380 $60,280
South Carolina $40,400 $33,000 $51,360
South Dakota $42,430 $36,450 $56,730
Tennessee $38,890 $32,870 $60,170
Texas $43,640 $31,930 $58,130
Utah $35,950 $30,440 $49,460
Vermont $50,090 $40,890 $67,210
Virginia $40,920 $36,170 $52,280
Washington $48,840 $39,840 $79,300
West Virginia $36,730 $26,470 $46,180
Wisconsin $56,420 $40,910 $66,560
Wyoming $35,740 $34,870 $46,280

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

National data

Median Salary: $39,460

Projected job growth: 2.3%

10th Percentile: $33,530

25th Percentile: $36,470

75th Percentile: $47,010

90th Percentile: $57,380

Projected job growth: 2.3%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $37,010 $26,760 $43,620
Arizona $38,620 $34,490 $51,890
Arkansas $37,060 $31,290 $44,990
California $47,410 $38,230 $79,960
Colorado $48,540 $42,940 $63,610
Connecticut $62,410 $49,400 $130,460
Florida $38,020 $33,580 $51,160
Georgia $45,050 $35,300 $53,330
Idaho N/A N/A N/A
Illinois $36,840 $35,300 $47,990
Indiana $37,360 $34,200 $58,050
Iowa $33,910 $30,360 $52,690
Kansas $44,920 $37,960 $45,990
Kentucky $36,650 $28,860 $47,150
Louisiana $37,160 $30,880 $45,530
Maine $43,520 $32,750 $61,270
Maryland $47,100 $33,590 $60,410
Massachusetts $43,100 $36,570 $64,770
Michigan $45,490 $36,620 $49,380
Minnesota $40,280 $34,020 $49,570
Mississippi $35,230 $27,460 $46,110
Missouri $38,740 $30,690 $49,450
Nebraska $40,640 $36,370 $50,250
Nevada $38,990 $34,030 $49,230
New Hampshire $59,460 $38,170 $80,370
New Jersey $47,420 $35,800 $48,400
New Mexico $38,590 $31,010 $58,240
New York $42,450 $35,170 $49,370
North Carolina $44,140 $33,890 $57,630
Ohio $46,320 $37,180 $48,480
Oklahoma $35,620 $29,830 $50,420
Oregon $45,780 $38,650 $58,630
Pennsylvania $37,680 $30,160 $49,750
Rhode Island $47,440 $36,490 $60,360
South Carolina $34,140 $24,870 $68,910
Tennessee $37,370 $33,880 $51,750
Texas $37,920 $30,710 $46,220
Virginia $34,170 $30,670 $55,860
Washington $49,230 $42,240 $59,490
West Virginia $37,140 $30,200 $41,600
Wisconsin $42,920 $32,900 $48,690

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2025 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.