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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

29-2057 Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

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.


National estimates for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Industry profile for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Geographic profile for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

National estimates for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:

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


Industry profile for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:

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


Geographic profile for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians:

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.



Map of employment of ophthalmic medical technicians by state, May 2021


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


Map of location quotient of ophthalmic medical technicians by state, May 2021


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


Map of annual mean wages of ophthalmic medical technicians by state, May 2021


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



Map of employment of ophthalmic medical technicians by area, May 2021


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


Map of location quotient of ophthalmic medical technicians by area, May 2021


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


Map of annual mean wages of ophthalmic medical technicians by area, May 2021


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


About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

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

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022