Ophthalmic Technologist Salary in the United States

How much does an Ophthalmic Technologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ophthalmic Technologist in the United States is $67,856 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,752
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,344 to $71,989
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,505

Key Factors That Influence Ophthalmic Technologist Salaries

An Ophthalmic Technologist'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 Ophthalmic Technologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Ophthalmic Technologist'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): $64,952
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,189
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,856
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $69,558
  • Expert (over 8 years): $69,679
Levels Salary
Entry Level Ophthalmic Technologist$64,952
Intermediate Level Ophthalmic Technologist$65,189
Senior Level Ophthalmic Technologist$67,856
Specialist Level Ophthalmic Technologist$69,558
Expert Level Ophthalmic Technologist$69,679

How Do Ophthalmic Technologist 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 Ophthalmic Technologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,130.
  • California: $74,845.
  • Massachusetts: $73,847.

Top Paying Cities for Ophthalmic Technologists

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: $85,587
  • San Francisco: $84,649
  • Oakland: $82,866

What Skills Can Increase an Ophthalmic Technologist'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.
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 Ophthalmic Technologist'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 $75,320
11%
Patient Education $71,927
6%
Flexibility $71,249
5%

Ophthalmic Technologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ophthalmic Technologist 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, Ophthalmic Technologist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Ophthalmic Technologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Ophthalmic Technologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$81,427$39.020%

How Education impacts an Ophthalmic Technologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ophthalmic Technologists 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 Ophthalmic Technologist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,121 and $54,881).

Ophthalmic Technologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ophthalmic Technologist
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%

Ophthalmic Technologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ophthalmic Technologist'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 September 01, 2026
$60,344
Average $67,856/year
$71,989
$5,029
Average $5,655/month
$5,999
$1,160
Average $1,305/week
$1,384
$29
Average $33/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,989 $5,999 $1,384 $35
Average $67,856 $5,655 $1,305 $33
25th Percentile $60,344 $5,029 $1,160 $29

Most common benefits for Ophthalmic Technologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Ophthalmic Technologist

Here are companies hiring for Ophthalmic Technologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Ophthalmic Technologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Ophthalmic Technologist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Ophthalmic Technologist 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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