# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmic-medical-technicians
- SOC code: 29-2057.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $45,570 (10th percentile $35,700, 90th percentile $61,940)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +21.4%
- Openings a year: 11,800
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 72 |
| Investigative (I) | 63 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 61 |
| Enterprising (E) | 13 |
| Conventional (C) | 57 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 89/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 87/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 77/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 74/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 74/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 70/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 67/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Active Learning, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, English Language, Mathematics, Administrative, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Psychology, Biology, Administration and Management

## Also called

Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech), Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT), Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA), Certified Retinal Angiographer, Eyecare Advisor, Health Technician (Health Tech), Medical Technician (Medical Tech), Ocular Care Technician (Ocular Care Tech), Ocular Care Technologist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5118) (CIP 5118, 67 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Capital Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/capital-community-college-395) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $75,081 | not reported |
| [Durham Technical Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/durham-technical-community-college-840) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | $63,645 | $74,897 | not reported |
| [Essex County College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/essex-county-college-924) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $68,134 | not reported |
| [Camden County College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/camden-county-college-386) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $61,446 | not reported |
| [CUNY New York City College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology-745) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $57,700 | not reported |
| [Hillsborough Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/hillsborough-community-college-1206) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | $59,146 | $57,215 | $12,739 |
| [Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/benjamin-franklin-institute-of-technology-217) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $56,306 | not reported |
| [Triton College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/triton-college-2820) | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $50,934 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Ophthalmic Medical Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmic-medical-technologists): $50,290 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Medical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-assistants): $45,690 median pay
- [Surgical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-assistants): $66,800 median pay
- [Neurodiagnostic Technologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/neurodiagnostic-technologists): $50,290 median pay
- [Endoscopy Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/endoscopy-technicians): $48,430 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.