Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant in the United States is $67,854 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,750
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,335 to $71,987
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,489
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View as table View as graph 25% $60,335 10% $53,489 90% $75,750 75% $71,987 $67,854 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $71,987 $5,999 $1,384 $35
Average $67,854 $5,654 $1,305 $33
25th Percentile $60,335 $5,028 $1,160 $29
Check out Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Medical Technologist or Medical Lab Technician

Trinity Health - Columbus, OH

Laboratory

Carenest Health - Columbus, OH

Medical Equipment Repair Technician

AdvaCare Systems - Columbus, OH

Search More Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salaries

An Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant'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 Technician / Medical Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant'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): $64,948
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,184
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,854
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $69,556
  • Expert (over 8 years): $69,677
Levels Salary
Entry Level Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant$64,948
Intermediate Level Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant$65,184
Senior Level Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant$67,854
Specialist Level Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant$69,556
Expert Level Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant$69,677
$64,948 0 yr
$65,184 < 2 yrs
$67,854 2-4 yrs
$69,556 5-8 yrs
$69,677 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Optometric Technician / Medical Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $75,128.
  • California: $74,843.
  • Massachusetts: $73,845.

Top Paying Cities for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistants

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: $85,584
  • San Francisco: $84,647
  • Oakland: $82,863

What Skills Can Increase an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.11% 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.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
  • Medical Billing (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): Medical billing is a payment practice within the United States health system. The process involves a healthcare provider submitting, following up on, and appealing claims with health insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered; such as testing, treatments, and procedures. The same process is used for most insurance companies, whether they are private companies or government sponsored programs: Medical coding reports what the diagnosis and treatment were, and prices are applied accordingly. Medical billers are encouraged, but not required by law, to become certified by taking an exam such as the CMRS Exam, RHIA Exam, CPB Exam and others. Certification schools are intended to provide a theoretical grounding for students entering the medical billing field. Some community colleges in the United States offer certificates, or even associate degrees, in the field. Those seeking advancement may be cross-trained in medical coding or transcription or auditing, and may earn a bachelor's or graduate degree in medical information science and technology.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.11%
Work Ethic 2.26%
Medical Billing 1.45%
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 Technician / Medical Assistant's salary.
  • Word Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Spreadsheet Software: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Word Processing
$80,067
18%
Spreadsheet Software
$72,603
7%
Problem Solving
$72,603
7%
Initiative
$71,925
6%
Organizational Skills
$70,568
4%
Leadership
$70,568
4%
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Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$81,424$39.020%
Healthcare$71,246$34.05%

How Education impacts an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optometric Technician / Medical Assistants 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 Technician / Medical Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,213 and $54,636).

Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 54.1%
Associates 23.9%
Bachelors 19.4%
Masters 1.2%
Doctorate 0.3%
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Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant'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 Technician / Medical Assistant

Salaries for an Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,671 in 2023 to around $54,296 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,671
2024
$54,920
2025
$54,296
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,671
2024 $54,920
2025 $54,296
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant Job

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

United States
  • DME Express LLC

    Columbus, OH

    DME Express LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Description. DME Express is having tremendous growth and currently in need of the best. drivers/technicians. to deliver a... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Health Aid of Ohio Inc

    Columbus, OH

    Health Aid of Ohio Inc | Columbus, OH

    Description:Company Overview:Health Aid of Ohio (HAO) is a federal supplier and service provider of home healthcare products.We are committed to safely pro... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Trinity Health

    Columbus, OH

    Trinity Health | Columbus, OH

    Employment Type:Full timeShift:Description:POSITION PURPOSEProvides Planned Maintenance (PM), safety testing, repairs, calibration, installation, routine a... more

    4 Days Ago

  • OhioHealth

    Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth - - Responsibilities: Interprets, obtains, prepares/compounds, labels, and distributes pharmacy products for patient use, considering patient ag... more

    5 Days Ago

  • OhioHealth

    Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth - - Responsibilities: Perform preventative maintenance on HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems and other building infrastructure in a healthcare e... more

    5 Days Ago

  • IDEXX Laboratories

    Columbus, OH

    IDEXX Laboratories | Columbus, OH

    Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or Technologist (MT). As a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) or Technologist (MT) at IDEXX, you will be a key contrib... more

    6 Days Ago

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FAQ about Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Optometric Technician / Medical Assistant 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.)

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