Ophthalmic Medical Technicians Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for ophthalmic medical technicianss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $47,060 ≈ $23/hr
National median salary $45,570
Total employment 71,010 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +19.8%
Much faster than average
Annual openings 12,500 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 78,800 → 94,400 (+15,600)
Typical entry education Postsecondary nondegree award
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Minnesota$63,580
- California$63,030
- Alaska$56,900
- Hawaii$55,240
- Massachusetts$55,210
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$36,980
- West Virginia$37,500
- Alabama$37,920
- Utah$38,680
- Wyoming$38,940
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $63,580 | $63,080 | $31 | +35.1% | 720 |
| 2 | California | $63,030 | $54,490 | $30 | +33.9% | 2,500 |
| 3 | Alaska | $56,900 | $49,970 | $27 | +20.9% | 90 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $55,240 | $58,240 | $27 | +17.4% | 190 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $55,210 | $49,750 | $27 | +17.3% | 2,330 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $54,920 | $56,420 | $26 | +16.7% | 1,260 |
| 7 | Oregon | $54,810 | $50,020 | $26 | +16.5% | 1,060 |
| 8 | Washington | $54,160 | $48,840 | $26 | +15.1% | 1,250 |
| 9 | Vermont | $53,720 | $50,090 | $26 | +14.2% | 150 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $53,130 | $50,790 | $26 | +12.9% | — |
| 11 | Maryland | $52,580 | $50,070 | $25 | +11.7% | 1,300 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $52,160 | $48,270 | $25 | +10.8% | 780 |
| 13 | New York | $52,110 | $48,440 | $25 | +10.7% | 4,250 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $51,940 | $49,110 | $25 | +10.4% | 300 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $50,720 | $49,050 | $24 | +7.8% | 4,150 |
| 16 | Colorado | $50,090 | $46,260 | $24 | +6.4% | 1,470 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $49,190 | $46,500 | $24 | +4.5% | 410 |
| 18 | Maine | $49,180 | $48,120 | $24 | +4.5% | 320 |
| 19 | Montana | $48,900 | $47,290 | $24 | +3.9% | 380 |
| 20 | Michigan | $46,660 | $46,750 | $22 | -0.8% | 1,800 |
| 21 | Illinois | $46,500 | $47,100 | $22 | -1.2% | 3,250 |
| 22 | Florida | $46,310 | $46,830 | $22 | -1.6% | 7,020 |
| 23 | Arizona | $46,220 | $47,040 | $22 | -1.8% | 1,630 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $46,080 | $45,150 | $22 | -2.1% | 1,630 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $46,040 | $46,190 | $22 | -2.2% | 220 |
| 26 | Iowa | $45,940 | $44,030 | $22 | -2.4% | 500 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $45,110 | $45,050 | $22 | -4.1% | 2,890 |
| 28 | Delaware | $44,970 | $44,540 | $22 | -4.4% | — |
| 29 | South Dakota | $44,330 | $42,430 | $21 | -5.8% | 300 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $44,230 | $45,210 | $21 | -6% | 530 |
| 31 | Texas | $44,080 | $43,640 | $21 | -6.3% | 6,540 |
| 32 | Kansas | $43,470 | $43,700 | $21 | -7.6% | 630 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $43,190 | $38,890 | $21 | -8.2% | 1,760 |
| 34 | Indiana | $43,110 | $43,490 | $21 | -8.4% | 1,610 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $42,920 | $38,610 | $21 | -8.8% | 400 |
| 36 | Georgia | $42,910 | $39,150 | $21 | -8.8% | 2,570 |
| 37 | Virginia | $42,870 | $40,920 | $21 | -8.9% | 1,540 |
| 38 | Ohio | $42,860 | $40,350 | $21 | -8.9% | 2,510 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $42,110 | $40,400 | $20 | -10.5% | 1,470 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $41,730 | $38,750 | $20 | -11.3% | 890 |
| 41 | Missouri | $41,620 | $40,290 | $20 | -11.6% | 960 |
| 42 | Nevada | $41,090 | $37,660 | $20 | -12.7% | 960 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $40,630 | $38,990 | $20 | -13.7% | 1,570 |
| 44 | Idaho | $40,420 | $38,280 | $19 | -14.1% | 230 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $39,110 | $37,340 | $19 | -16.9% | 540 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $39,110 | $37,920 | $19 | -16.9% | 980 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $38,940 | $35,740 | $19 | -17.3% | 110 |
| 48 | Utah | $38,680 | $35,950 | $19 | -17.8% | 680 |
| 49 | Alabama | $37,920 | $36,680 | $18 | -19.4% | 1,260 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $37,500 | $36,730 | $18 | -20.3% | 260 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $36,980 | $36,220 | $18 | -21.4% | 690 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 316 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $102,540 | $91,160 | 40 |
| 2 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $65,000 | $60,870 | 130 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,300 | $73,740 | 420 |
| 4 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,080 | $67,350 | 450 |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,390 | $59,480 | — |
| 6 | Duluth, MN-WI | $61,880 | $60,770 | 40 |
| 7 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,580 | $59,300 | 300 |
| 8 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $60,600 | $64,620 | — |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $60,440 | $59,300 | 310 |
| 10 | Bend, OR | $59,990 | $57,870 | 100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing ophthalmic medical technicianss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitals, Privately Owned | $62,390 | $62,310 | 2,560 |
| 2 | Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $62,390 | $63,680 | 210 |
| 3 | Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals, Privately Owned | $62,390 | $63,340 | 200 |
| 4 | Hospitals | $62,350 | $61,930 | 3,210 |
| 5 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, Privately Owned | $62,030 | $62,220 | 2,360 |
| 6 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $61,620 | $61,800 | 3,000 |
| 7 | Hospitals, Local Government Owned | $61,170 | $63,860 | 200 |
| 8 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, Local Government Owned | $61,170 | $63,860 | 200 |
| 9 | Outpatient Care Centers | $60,640 | $68,020 | 1,570 |
| 10 | Educational Services, Privately Owned | $60,600 | $60,820 | 640 |
| 11 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Privately Owned | $60,600 | $60,820 | 640 |
| 12 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $60,530 | $61,950 | 280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make in the U.S.?
The median ophthalmic medical technicians salary in the United States is $45,570 per year (mean $47,060), and about 80% earn between $35,700 and $61,940.
How much do ophthalmic medical technicians make per hour?
Roughly $23 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $47,060 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays ophthalmic medical technicians the most?
Minnesota has the highest average pay for ophthalmic medical technicians at $63,580 per year (median $63,080).
What is the job outlook for ophthalmic medical technicians?
Employment is projected to change +19.8% from 2024 to 2034 (Much faster than average), with about 12,500 openings per year.