Ophthalmic Medical Technician Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$45,570
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$21.91
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$61,940
entry level starts ~$35,700
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 71,000 employed

How much does an Ophthalmic Medical Technician make?

An Ophthalmic Medical Technician earns a median annual salary of $45,570 in the United States, which works out to roughly $21.91 per hour for full-time work. Most Ophthalmic Medical Technicians earn between $35,700 at the entry level and $61,940 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $38,170 and $51,390 a year.

That is $15,820 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Ophthalmic Medical Technician salary range by percentile

Half of all Ophthalmic Medical Technicians earn between $38,170 and $51,390 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$35,700$17.16
25th percentile (early career)$38,170$18.35
50th percentile (median)$45,570$21.91
75th percentile (experienced)$51,390$24.71
90th percentile (top earners)$61,940$29.78

Highest-paying states for Ophthalmic Medical Technician

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Minnesota leads the country for Ophthalmic Medical Technician pay at $63,080 a year, followed by Hawaii ($58,240) and Wisconsin ($56,420). At the other end, Wyoming posts the lowest median at $35,740 — a gap of $27,340 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Minnesota$63,080$30.33+38%
2Hawaii$58,240$28.00+28%
3Wisconsin$56,420$27.13+24%
4California$54,490$26.20+20%
5District of Columbia$50,790$24.42+11%

Workforce and education

About 71,000 people work as Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $47,060 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Ophthalmic Medical Technician make in the United States?
The median Ophthalmic Medical Technician salary in the United States is $45,570 per year, or about $21.91 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,700, while the top 10% of earners make $61,940 or more.
How does Ophthalmic Medical Technician pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Ophthalmic Medical Technician median of $45,570 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Ophthalmic Medical Technicians the most?
Minnesota is the highest-paying state for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, with a median salary of $63,080 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Ophthalmic Medical Technician?
Becoming an Ophthalmic Medical Technician typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Ophthalmic Medical Technicians work in the United States?
About 71,000 people were employed as Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.