Home » Specialties » Ophthalmic Technician

Ophthalmic Technician Careers: Job Duties, Education & Certification

Search for programs near you
woman pointing at row on eye chart
Home » Specialties » Ophthalmic Technician

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: $38,860
Search for programs near you

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 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 2022 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: $38,860

Projected job growth: 12.7%

10th Percentile: $29,830

25th Percentile: $35,100

75th Percentile: $48,080

90th Percentile: $58,970

Projected job growth: 12.7%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $33,340 $28,130 $45,950
Alaska $59,850 $44,330 $78,790
Arizona $36,810 $30,820 $49,080
Arkansas $34,380 $26,620 $45,510
California $46,400 $35,340 $81,380
Colorado $38,370 $31,580 $61,660
Connecticut $45,040 $37,860 $59,760
Delaware $39,440 $31,990 $53,630
District of Columbia $33,630 $33,630 $60,690
Florida $43,300 $28,900 $60,150
Georgia $36,700 $28,080 $49,670
Hawaii $41,190 $29,940 $62,380
Idaho $36,830 $28,080 $50,560
Illinois $40,250 $31,200 $53,530
Indiana $37,690 $30,860 $52,000
Iowa $42,490 $32,210 $60,810
Kansas $37,440 $28,790 $52,130
Kentucky $34,170 $23,430 $47,020
Louisiana $39,790 $30,230 $59,420
Maine $39,940 $33,820 $51,700
Maryland $39,780 $32,860 $57,200
Massachusetts $50,150 $38,200 $67,830
Michigan $38,110 $29,190 $53,100
Minnesota $57,730 $36,820 $78,630
Mississippi $33,450 $27,640 $48,190
Missouri $32,940 $28,310 $39,820
Montana $36,880 $28,340 $49,520
Nebraska $41,710 $30,510 $44,250
Nevada $30,400 $28,730 $49,820
New Hampshire $39,930 $33,210 $63,070
New Jersey $49,870 $31,560 $61,920
New Mexico $34,200 $27,120 $47,580
New York $48,430 $37,440 $61,990
North Carolina $36,780 $29,060 $49,970
North Dakota $41,600 $35,460 $48,050
Ohio $38,900 $30,550 $54,410
Oklahoma $35,900 $29,230 $45,890
Oregon $46,990 $33,970 $66,280
Pennsylvania $37,440 $32,540 $52,790
Rhode Island $48,310 $37,280 $66,510
South Carolina $36,930 $30,130 $51,420
South Dakota $38,390 $32,930 $51,000
Tennessee $37,370 $29,070 $47,920
Texas $36,600 $28,760 $47,820
Utah $36,080 $27,720 $48,810
Vermont $47,160 $38,200 $59,250
Virginia $37,780 $30,970 $49,160
Washington $47,720 $38,160 $63,950
West Virginia $29,620 $23,620 $37,610
Wisconsin $48,120 $36,690 $59,650
Wyoming $29,280 $24,960 $41,600

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. 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: $36,810

Projected job growth: 1.1%

10th Percentile: $27,930

25th Percentile: $31,620

75th Percentile: $45,180

90th Percentile: $58,430

Projected job growth: 1.1%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $33,070 $25,950 $46,260
Arizona $39,280 $31,440 $68,700
Arkansas $33,630 $26,930 $45,340
California $45,180 $34,740 $72,740
Colorado $47,170 $35,770 $61,390
Connecticut $49,220 $40,200 $79,490
District of Columbia $55,120 $53,920 $55,130
Florida $33,250 $28,450 $42,250
Georgia $38,980 $23,970 $59,580
Idaho $31,730 $21,160 $60,280
Illinois $28,890 $26,360 $40,920
Indiana $35,620 $27,180 $47,940
Kansas $28,380 $24,370 $36,210
Kentucky $31,250 $25,010 $39,600
Louisiana $32,090 $26,970 $48,930
Maryland $41,660 $37,730 $61,280
Massachusetts $38,060 $37,280 $57,970
Michigan $36,930 $27,870 $45,820
Minnesota $37,700 $35,490 $45,930
Mississippi $32,240 $24,950 $48,870
Missouri $38,950 $31,350 $62,470
Nebraska $34,690 $23,710 $50,680
Nevada $35,680 $27,490 $49,030
New Hampshire $64,140 $33,310 $86,430
New Jersey $49,720 $36,790 $56,570
New York $36,250 $31,080 $58,430
North Carolina $33,810 $28,900 $63,170
Ohio $38,520 $27,040 $48,820
Oklahoma $32,290 $22,950 $48,880
Oregon $38,780 $31,270 $61,420
Pennsylvania $37,930 $29,330 $49,280
South Carolina $39,640 $27,580 $51,660
Tennessee $31,850 $29,020 $35,620
Texas $33,070 $27,560 $39,360
Vermont $41,840 $30,460 $50,140
Virginia $36,150 $26,750 $47,940
Washington $35,960 $33,020 $50,330
West Virginia $39,260 $24,630 $50,490
Wisconsin $40,860 $32,180 $51,610

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. 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.