Ophthalmic Technician Careers: Job Duties, Education & Certification
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’s degree plus 1-year certificate or diploma
- Median annual salary: $37,180
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 reports median annual salaries for ophthalmic medical techs and ophthalmic lab techs. Take a look at the median annual wage for these two fields, as of 2021 data:
National data
Median Salary: $37,180
Projected job growth: 14.7%
10th Percentile: $28,910
25th Percentile: $30,950
75th Percentile: $46,700
90th Percentile: $58,500
Projected job growth: 14.7%
State data
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $59,390 | $46,700 | $75,350 |
| Alabama | $30,080 | $27,110 | $46,020 |
| Arkansas | $34,720 | $27,140 | $46,420 |
| Arizona | $36,590 | $29,000 | $46,740 |
| California | $46,050 | $30,720 | $95,100 |
| Colorado | $38,420 | $29,340 | $58,680 |
| Connecticut | $46,280 | $29,380 | $58,500 |
| District of Columbia | $31,300 | $31,300 | $59,110 |
| Delaware | $37,390 | $29,780 | $58,540 |
| Florida | $37,510 | $29,000 | $58,160 |
| Georgia | $36,880 | $28,140 | $47,390 |
| Hawaii | $37,150 | $29,210 | $59,530 |
| Iowa | $38,460 | $29,650 | $60,810 |
| Idaho | $36,010 | $28,130 | $53,150 |
| Illinois | $46,210 | $29,280 | $59,170 |
| Indiana | $37,180 | $28,650 | $47,440 |
| Kansas | $36,690 | $28,720 | $47,440 |
| Kentucky | $29,340 | $25,970 | $38,660 |
| Louisiana | $31,360 | $28,120 | $45,910 |
| Massachusetts | $46,470 | $29,340 | $69,180 |
| Maryland | $40,090 | $30,650 | $59,390 |
| Maine | $37,180 | $28,890 | $58,630 |
| Michigan | $38,170 | $29,340 | $58,640 |
| Minnesota | $58,160 | $36,770 | $73,730 |
| Missouri | $29,460 | $24,910 | $46,190 |
| Mississippi | $29,650 | $23,470 | $47,090 |
| Montana | $36,630 | $28,790 | $46,420 |
| North Carolina | $36,740 | $28,230 | $47,510 |
| North Dakota | $37,220 | $29,370 | $47,170 |
| Nebraska | $37,640 | $28,850 | $45,850 |
| New Hampshire | $37,920 | $30,000 | $58,540 |
| New Jersey | $58,180 | $36,810 | $58,640 |
| New Mexico | $34,740 | $27,850 | $46,420 |
| Nevada | $37,540 | $29,270 | $60,320 |
| New York | $46,220 | $29,140 | $58,500 |
| Ohio | $36,640 | $28,820 | $47,360 |
| Oklahoma | $36,360 | $28,790 | $46,840 |
| Oregon | $46,300 | $36,360 | $61,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,750 | $23,520 | $49,340 |
| Rhode Island | $46,370 | $36,780 | $60,810 |
| South Carolina | $36,640 | $28,570 | $47,440 |
| South Dakota | $36,640 | $28,680 | $47,110 |
| Tennessee | $37,070 | $27,820 | $58,160 |
| Texas | $33,700 | $26,870 | $45,550 |
| Utah | $36,590 | $29,130 | $46,210 |
| Virginia | $36,240 | $28,540 | $46,470 |
| Vermont | $45,720 | $36,360 | $58,180 |
| Washington | $46,190 | $36,590 | $60,320 |
| Wisconsin | $46,170 | $29,650 | $58,500 |
| West Virginia | $35,000 | $22,350 | $45,020 |
| Wyoming | $29,190 | $23,310 | $46,190 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2031. Actual salaries 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.
National data
Median Salary: $37,270
Projected job growth: 3.7%
10th Percentile: $28,080
25th Percentile: $30,010
75th Percentile: $46,210
90th Percentile: $56,190
Projected job growth: 3.7%
State data
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $24,080 | $16,850 | $38,370 |
| Arkansas | $30,110 | $24,420 | $36,550 |
| Arizona | $38,370 | $31,300 | $61,920 |
| California | $43,910 | $30,010 | $63,000 |
| Colorado | $38,760 | $30,160 | $59,110 |
| Connecticut | $48,050 | $36,660 | $76,970 |
| Florida | $36,200 | $23,980 | $47,400 |
| Georgia | $37,750 | $24,080 | $48,310 |
| Iowa | $30,160 | $28,710 | $46,580 |
| Idaho | $36,590 | $30,500 | $73,700 |
| Illinois | $37,750 | $27,150 | $47,640 |
| Indiana | $31,420 | $22,140 | $47,330 |
| Kansas | $29,820 | $26,380 | $38,640 |
| Kentucky | $28,820 | $23,530 | $37,750 |
| Louisiana | $30,860 | $23,940 | $47,330 |
| Massachusetts | $37,240 | $34,690 | $59,110 |
| Maryland | $37,800 | $30,120 | $58,640 |
| Michigan | $36,890 | $28,990 | $47,440 |
| Minnesota | $37,800 | $29,660 | $47,740 |
| Missouri | $37,460 | $27,750 | $59,700 |
| Mississippi | $29,880 | $23,930 | $47,070 |
| North Carolina | $31,100 | $28,070 | $43,870 |
| Nebraska | $37,270 | $27,820 | $47,330 |
| New Hampshire | $59,970 | $30,690 | $77,730 |
| New Jersey | $45,600 | $37,800 | $47,440 |
| New Mexico | $36,710 | $28,130 | $47,330 |
| Nevada | $28,570 | $26,590 | $44,310 |
| New York | $36,720 | $29,930 | $56,760 |
| Ohio | $34,620 | $22,910 | $48,620 |
| Oklahoma | $30,710 | $23,090 | $47,160 |
| Oregon | $37,750 | $25,130 | $52,860 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,300 | $26,570 | $47,640 |
| South Carolina | $37,310 | $24,580 | $48,060 |
| South Dakota | $28,830 | $28,820 | $50,090 |
| Tennessee | $29,370 | $23,580 | $39,450 |
| Texas | $30,010 | $27,340 | $45,740 |
| Virginia | $36,470 | $24,790 | $47,440 |
| Vermont | $45,830 | $30,070 | $59,340 |
| Washington | $47,750 | $38,070 | $48,980 |
| Wisconsin | $38,370 | $30,280 | $47,760 |
| West Virginia | $33,740 | $23,420 | $38,160 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2031. Actual salaries 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.