How much does an Orthoptist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Orthoptist in the United States is $343,037 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $165.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $412,142
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $321,793 to $379,209
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $302,451

Key Factors That Influence Orthoptist Salaries

An Orthoptist'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 Orthoptist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Orthoptist'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): $332,151
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $333,675
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $335,198
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $337,331
  • Expert (over 8 years): $343,037
Levels Salary
Entry Level Orthoptist$332,151
Intermediate Level Orthoptist$333,675
Senior Level Orthoptist$335,198
Specialist Level Orthoptist$337,331
Expert Level Orthoptist$343,037

Top Paying Cities for Orthoptists

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: $432,673
  • San Francisco: $427,935
  • Oakland: $418,917

What Skills Can Increase an Orthoptist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.98% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Wound Care (Mentioned in 5.42% Job Postings): Decontaminating medical equipment and instruments from harmful microorganisms to avoid transmission of infectious pathogens to patients.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 3.18% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.98%
Wound Care 5.42%
Medical Education 3.18%

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 Orthoptist's salary.

  • Geriatrics: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Geriatrics $397,923
16%
Collaboration $373,910
9%
Consulting $373,910
9%

Orthoptist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Orthoptist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Orthoptist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Orthoptist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Orthoptist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$480,252$231.040%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$394,493$190.015%

How Education impacts an Orthoptist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Orthoptists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 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 Orthoptist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $319,280 and $346,739).

Orthoptist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Orthoptist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.7%
High School 2.7%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 97.3%

Orthoptist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Orthoptist'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
$321,793
Average $343,037/year
$379,209
$26,816
Average $28,586/month
$31,601
$6,188
Average $6,597/week
$7,292
$155
Average $165/hour
$182
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $379,209 $31,601 $7,292 $182
Average $343,037 $28,586 $6,597 $165
25th Percentile $321,793 $26,816 $6,188 $155

Most common benefits for Orthoptist

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

Common company salaries for Orthoptist

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

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FAQ about Orthoptist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Orthoptist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Orthoptist roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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