Optometric Tech Salary in the United States

How much does an Optometric Tech make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optometric Tech in the United States is $66,845 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, an Optometric Tech's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,071
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,190 to $71,674
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,311
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View as table View as graph 25% $58,190 10% $50,311 90% $76,071 75% $71,674 $66,845 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Optometric Tech Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $71,674 $5,973 $1,378 $34
Average $66,845 $5,570 $1,285 $32
25th Percentile $58,190 $4,849 $1,119 $28
Check out Optometric Tech Job Openings in the United States
Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Local CDL

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

Search More Optometric Tech Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Optometric Tech Salaries

An Optometric Tech's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Optometric Tech Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optometric Tech's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,003
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,243
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,956
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $70,686
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,809
Levels Salary
Entry Level Optometric Tech$66,003
Intermediate Level Optometric Tech$66,243
Senior Level Optometric Tech$68,956
Specialist Level Optometric Tech$70,686
Expert Level Optometric Tech$70,809
$66,003 0 yr
$66,243 < 2 yrs
$68,956 2-4 yrs
$70,686 5-8 yrs
$70,809 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Optometric Teches

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $84,311
  • San Francisco: $83,388
  • Oakland: $81,631

What Skills Can Increase an Optometric Tech's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.09% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Photography (Mentioned in 2.58% Job Postings): Photography is the art, application and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed in many fields of science, manufacturing (e.g., photolithography), and business, as well as its more direct uses for art, film and video production, recreational purposes, hobby, and mass communication. Typically, a lens is used to focus the light reflected or emitted from objects into a real image on the light-sensitive surface inside a camera during a timed exposure. With an electronic image sensor, this produces an electrical charge at each pixel, which is electronically processed and stored in a digital image file for subsequent display or processing. The result with photographic emulsion is an invisible latent image, which is later chemically "developed" into a visible image, either negative or positive depending on the purpose of the photographic material and the method of processing. A negative image on film is traditionally used to photographically create a positive image on a paper base, known as a print, either by using an enlarger or by contact printing.
  • Triage (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Triage (/ˈtriːɑːʒ, triˈɑːʒ/) is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately; influencing the order and priority of emergency treatment, emergency transport, or transport destination for the patient. This article covers the various types of triage systems as it occurs in medical emergencies, including the prehospital setting, disasters, and emergency department treatment, along with their limitations and ethical considerations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.09%
Photography 2.58%
Triage 1.67%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Optometric Tech's salary.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Patient Education: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accountability
$74,197
11%
Patient Education
$70,855
6%
Flexibility
$70,187
5%
Interviewing
$69,518
4%
Products and Services
$68,850
3%
Commitment
$68,850
3%
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Optometric Tech Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Optometric Tech roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Optometric Tech positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Optometric Tech as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Optometric Tech

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$80,213$39.020%

How Education impacts an Optometric Tech's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optometric Teches enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Optometric Tech with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,121 and $54,881).

Optometric Tech Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optometric Tech
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.9%
High School 58.7%
Associates 21.1%
Bachelors 16.1%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 1.0%
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Optometric Tech Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optometric Tech's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Optometric Tech

Salaries for an Optometric Tech can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $56,651 in 2023 to around $56,263 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Optometric Tech salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Optometric Tech Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$56,651
2024
$56,910
2025
$56,263
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $56,651
2024 $56,910
2025 $56,263
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Optometric Tech

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Optometric Tech

Here are companies hiring for Optometric Tech and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Optometric Tech Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Optometric Tech job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Optometric Tech

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Optometric Tech?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Optometric Tech roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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