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Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
65,700 | 4.1 % | $ 19.77 | $ 41,120 | 1.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 13.90 | $ 14.88 | $ 17.87 | $ 22.45 | $ 28.12 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 28,910 | $ 30,950 | $ 37,180 | $ 46,700 | $ 58,500 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Offices of Physicians | 41,310 | 1.53 | $ 20.62 | $ 42,890 |
Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 17,290 | 1.78 | $ 16.68 | $ 34,700 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 2,490 | 0.04 | $ 24.70 | $ 51,380 |
Health and Personal Care Stores | 2,110 | 0.21 | $ 15.58 | $ 32,400 |
Outpatient Care Centers | 1,130 | 0.11 | $ 28.27 | $ 58,810 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 17,290 | 1.78 | $ 16.68 | $ 34,700 |
Offices of Physicians | 41,310 | 1.53 | $ 20.62 | $ 42,890 |
Health and Personal Care Stores | 2,110 | 0.21 | $ 15.58 | $ 32,400 |
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 330 | 0.12 | $ 23.63 | $ 49,160 |
Outpatient Care Centers | 1,130 | 0.11 | $ 28.27 | $ 58,810 |
Top paying industries for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Outpatient Care Centers | 1,130 | 0.11 | $ 28.27 | $ 58,810 |
Employment Services | 140 | (7) | $ 27.09 | $ 56,360 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 450 | 0.02 | $ 24.77 | $ 51,530 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 2,490 | 0.04 | $ 24.70 | $ 51,380 |
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 330 | 0.12 | $ 23.63 | $ 49,160 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 5,610 | 0.34 | 0.73 | $ 24.53 | $ 51,010 |
New York | 5,310 | 0.61 | 1.31 | $ 20.85 | $ 43,370 |
Texas | 4,900 | 0.40 | 0.86 | $ 16.48 | $ 34,270 |
Florida | 4,880 | 0.57 | 1.22 | $ 19.79 | $ 41,160 |
North Carolina | 3,290 | 0.74 | 1.60 | $ 18.30 | $ 38,060 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | 2,250 | 0.78 | 1.67 | $ 17.98 | $ 37,400 |
North Carolina | 3,290 | 0.74 | 1.60 | $ 18.30 | $ 38,060 |
Rhode Island | 340 | 0.73 | 1.57 | $ 23.02 | $ 47,890 |
Vermont | 210 | 0.72 | 1.55 | $ 20.94 | $ 43,550 |
Maine | 430 | 0.72 | 1.55 | $ 20.04 | $ 41,690 |
Top paying states for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alaska | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 27.35 | $ 56,890 |
Minnesota | 1,330 | 0.49 | 1.04 | $ 26.20 | $ 54,500 |
New Jersey | 1,180 | 0.31 | 0.66 | $ 24.90 | $ 51,780 |
California | 5,610 | 0.34 | 0.73 | $ 24.53 | $ 51,010 |
Oregon | 780 | 0.43 | 0.91 | $ 23.18 | $ 48,220 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 5,010 | 0.58 | 1.24 | $ 22.03 | $ 45,820 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 2,440 | 0.58 | 1.24 | $ 21.53 | $ 44,770 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,940 | 0.79 | 1.69 | $ 21.62 | $ 44,960 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 1,640 | 0.78 | 1.67 | $ 17.98 | $ 37,400 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,580 | 0.28 | 0.59 | $ 22.94 | $ 47,720 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,350 | 0.38 | 0.80 | $ 17.54 | $ 36,490 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,210 | 0.67 | 1.44 | $ 21.15 | $ 44,000 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 960 | 0.37 | 0.80 | $ 19.12 | $ 39,760 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 890 | 0.30 | 0.65 | $ 19.84 | $ 41,270 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 840 | 0.29 | 0.62 | $ 17.49 | $ 36,390 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hattiesburg, MS | 150 | 2.45 | 5.26 | $ 17.48 | $ 36,360 |
Wilmington, NC | 300 | 2.33 | 5.00 | $ 18.31 | $ 38,090 |
Rocky Mount, NC | 110 | 2.07 | 4.44 | $ 16.65 | $ 34,630 |
Great Falls, MT | 60 | 1.65 | 3.54 | $ 16.31 | $ 33,920 |
Eugene, OR | 210 | 1.39 | 2.97 | $ 21.77 | $ 45,270 |
Carbondale-Marion, IL | 70 | 1.33 | 2.85 | $ 17.11 | $ 35,600 |
Bangor, ME | 80 | 1.31 | 2.82 | $ 19.81 | $ 41,210 |
Altoona, PA | 70 | 1.30 | 2.79 | $ 17.53 | $ 36,470 |
Chico, CA | 100 | 1.28 | 2.74 | (8) | (8) |
Pueblo, CO | 80 | 1.26 | 2.71 | $ 17.46 | $ 36,310 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Springfield, IL | 90 | 0.93 | 1.99 | $ 33.07 | $ 68,780 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 840 | 0.37 | 0.80 | $ 30.60 | $ 63,650 |
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 60 | 0.43 | 0.93 | $ 29.83 | $ 62,050 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 370 | 0.34 | 0.74 | $ 27.64 | $ 57,500 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 25.60 | $ 53,250 |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 390 | 0.35 | 0.74 | $ 25.55 | $ 53,140 |
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 40 | 0.38 | 0.81 | $ 25.01 | $ 52,020 |
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 790 | 0.57 | 1.22 | $ 24.93 | $ 51,860 |
Chattanooga, TN-GA | 120 | 0.48 | 1.03 | $ 24.16 | $ 50,260 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 560 | 0.29 | 0.62 | $ 24.14 | $ 50,200 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 0.98 | 2.09 | $ 21.33 | $ 44,360 |
Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 180 | 0.75 | 1.60 | $ 17.76 | $ 36,950 |
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 0.98 | 2.11 | $ 14.42 | $ 29,990 |
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.44 | 3.09 | $ 19.38 | $ 40,310 |
Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.51 | 1.09 | $ 15.97 | $ 33,220 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.44 | 3.09 | $ 19.38 | $ 40,310 |
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.11 | 2.38 | $ 14.79 | $ 30,760 |
South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 0.98 | 2.11 | $ 14.42 | $ 29,990 |
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 0.98 | 2.09 | $ 21.33 | $ 44,360 |
Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.96 | 2.06 | $ 16.15 | $ 33,600 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 0.58 | 1.24 | $ 22.16 | $ 46,090 |
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.71 | 1.52 | $ 21.54 | $ 44,800 |
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 0.98 | 2.09 | $ 21.33 | $ 44,360 |
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.39 | 0.84 | $ 20.46 | $ 42,550 |
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.38 | 0.82 | $ 20.26 | $ 42,140 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022