Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Ophthalmic medical technicians (SOC 29-2057) employed 71,010 people in May 2025. The median pay is $45,570 a year ($21.91 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,700 and the highest-paid 10% more than $61,940. BLS projects its employment to change by +21.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 11,800 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: Minnesota ($63,080), Hawaii ($58,240), Wisconsin ($56,420). Most jobs: Florida (7,020), Texas (6,540), New York (4,250).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| 25th percentile | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Median | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Mean | $47,060 | $22.62 |
| 75th percentile | $51,390 | $24.71 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $61,940 | $29.78 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 72,500 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 88,000 |
| Change in jobs | 15,500 |
| Percent change | +21.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 11,800 |
| Self-employed share | 0.4% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,260 | 1.30 | $36,680 | $29,120 | $47,690 | -20% | 35% |
| Alaska | 90 | 0.61 | $49,970 | $44,480 | $69,680 | +10% | 35% |
| Arizona | 1,630 | 1.10 | $47,040 | $38,370 | $55,300 | +3% | 43% |
| Arkansas | 540 | 0.91 | $37,340 | $30,210 | $47,160 | -18% | 32% |
| California | 2,500 | 0.30 | $54,490 | $38,780 | $101,700 | +20% | 46% |
| Colorado | 1,470 | 1.12 | $46,260 | $37,150 | $65,790 | +2% | 47% |
| Connecticut | 780 | 1.00 | $48,270 | $40,200 | $65,820 | +6% | 39% |
| Florida | 7,020 | 1.55 | $46,830 | $36,330 | $59,100 | +3% | 46% |
| Georgia | 2,570 | 1.15 | $39,150 | $34,180 | $60,010 | -14% | 46% |
| Hawaii | 190 | 0.66 | $58,240 | $40,370 | $64,850 | +28% | 40% |
| Idaho | 230 | 0.58 | $38,280 | $34,760 | $49,440 | -16% | 43% |
| Illinois | 3,250 | 1.17 | $47,100 | $36,190 | $60,490 | +3% | 34% |
| Indiana | 1,610 | 1.10 | $43,490 | $34,990 | $57,130 | -5% | 30% |
| Iowa | 500 | 0.70 | $44,030 | $36,860 | $58,610 | -3% | 27% |
| Kansas | 630 | 0.96 | $43,700 | $32,710 | $58,760 | -4% | 30% |
| Kentucky | 1,570 | 1.72 | $38,990 | $30,320 | $51,840 | -14% | 31% |
| Louisiana | 890 | 1.01 | $38,750 | $31,130 | $51,630 | -15% | 33% |
| Maine | 320 | 1.09 | $48,120 | $39,370 | $61,230 | +6% | 30% |
| Maryland | 1,300 | 1.03 | $50,070 | $39,460 | $66,820 | +10% | 41% |
| Massachusetts | 2,330 | 1.40 | $49,750 | $38,480 | $80,220 | +9% | 45% |
| Michigan | 1,800 | 0.90 | $46,750 | $37,270 | $59,170 | +3% | 30% |
| Minnesota | 720 | 0.53 | $63,080 | $46,080 | $83,330 | +38% | 25% |
| Mississippi | 690 | 1.29 | $36,220 | $29,480 | $45,140 | -21% | 33% |
| Missouri | 960 | 0.72 | $40,290 | $31,470 | $50,530 | -12% | 32% |
| Montana | 380 | 1.63 | $47,290 | $35,420 | $64,370 | +4% | 30% |
| Nebraska | 530 | 1.13 | $45,210 | $37,330 | $53,350 | -1% | 29% |
| Nevada | 960 | 1.35 | $37,660 | $35,530 | $49,360 | -17% | 54% |
| New Hampshire | 300 | 0.95 | $49,110 | $39,380 | $63,930 | +8% | 38% |
| New Jersey | 4,150 | 2.12 | $49,050 | $39,970 | $58,250 | +8% | 44% |
| New Mexico | 400 | 1.01 | $38,610 | $35,250 | $58,630 | -15% | 35% |
| New York | 4,250 | 0.96 | $48,440 | $39,100 | $68,510 | +6% | 40% |
| North Carolina | 1,630 | 0.72 | $45,150 | $36,260 | $61,970 | -1% | 36% |
| North Dakota | 220 | 1.14 | $46,190 | $39,110 | $59,920 | +1% | 25% |
| Ohio | 2,510 | 0.99 | $40,350 | $34,570 | $53,420 | -11% | 32% |
| Oklahoma | 980 | 1.25 | $37,920 | $29,330 | $48,260 | -17% | 33% |
| Oregon | 1,060 | 1.18 | $50,020 | $40,670 | $67,210 | +10% | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,890 | 1.04 | $45,050 | $36,300 | $55,900 | -1% | 33% |
| Rhode Island | 410 | 1.79 | $46,500 | $39,380 | $60,280 | +2% | 37% |
| South Carolina | 1,470 | 1.40 | $40,400 | $33,000 | $51,360 | -11% | 38% |
| South Dakota | 300 | 1.43 | $42,430 | $36,450 | $56,730 | -7% | 28% |
| Tennessee | 1,760 | 1.18 | $38,890 | $32,870 | $60,170 | -15% | 40% |
| Texas | 6,540 | 1.02 | $43,640 | $31,930 | $58,130 | -4% | 41% |
| Utah | 680 | 0.85 | $35,950 | $30,440 | $49,460 | -21% | 53% |
| Vermont | 150 | 1.11 | $50,090 | $40,890 | $67,210 | +10% | 32% |
| Virginia | 1,540 | 0.82 | $40,920 | $36,170 | $52,280 | -10% | 48% |
| Washington | 1,250 | 0.77 | $48,840 | $39,840 | $79,300 | +7% | 45% |
| West Virginia | 260 | 0.81 | $36,730 | $26,470 | $46,180 | -19% | 29% |
| Wisconsin | 1,260 | 0.94 | $56,420 | $40,910 | $66,560 | +24% | 24% |
| Wyoming | 110 | 0.83 | $35,740 | $34,870 | $46,280 | -22% | 34% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 420 | $63,300 | $42,890 | $120,350 | 0.39 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 450 | $63,080 | $48,620 | $85,250 | 0.51 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 300 | $61,580 | $47,490 | $66,680 | 0.81 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 310 | $60,440 | $38,850 | $75,020 | 0.44 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,670 | $55,100 | $40,810 | $68,500 | 1.31 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 530 | $53,990 | $42,300 | $80,190 | 0.55 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,740 | $52,670 | $38,480 | $80,740 | 1.41 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 640 | $51,380 | $39,520 | $66,820 | 1.04 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 340 | $51,300 | $49,940 | $98,230 | 0.66 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,390 | $50,010 | $36,650 | $60,560 | 1.16 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,310 | $49,950 | $37,230 | $60,250 | 1.25 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 620 | $49,870 | $40,630 | $79,010 | 0.85 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,880 | $49,710 | $37,890 | $63,650 | 1.46 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,150 | $48,830 | $39,440 | $55,300 | 1.06 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 920 | $48,050 | $37,640 | $64,390 | 0.64 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 440 | $47,540 | $37,900 | $59,750 | 0.72 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 840 | $47,290 | $38,260 | $56,100 | 0.96 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 940 | $47,210 | $36,710 | $58,640 | 1.43 |
| Rochester, NY | 300 | $47,030 | $37,640 | $61,290 | 1.33 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 550 | $47,010 | $37,480 | $67,290 | 1.10 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,050 | $46,990 | $37,440 | $58,880 | 0.80 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,570 | $46,640 | $36,330 | $50,160 | 2.44 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 510 | $46,500 | $38,080 | $60,280 | 1.56 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,100 | $46,450 | $32,360 | $57,610 | 0.73 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 310 | $44,960 | $35,560 | $57,800 | 2.54 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 720 | $44,230 | $36,950 | $57,230 | 1.43 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 570 | $44,110 | $34,630 | $52,540 | 1.84 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 470 | $43,890 | $30,610 | $47,790 | 0.92 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 500 | $43,700 | $37,050 | $59,860 | 1.00 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 480 | $43,580 | $37,550 | $50,530 | 1.96 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 300 | $42,860 | $36,870 | $47,800 | 0.88 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 310 | $42,510 | $36,120 | $51,520 | 0.89 |
| Cleveland, OH | 640 | $41,620 | $35,140 | $60,580 | 1.37 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 750 | $41,410 | $35,760 | $52,960 | 1.49 |
| Columbus, OH | 300 | $40,980 | $35,140 | $53,430 | 0.60 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 330 | $40,400 | $33,660 | $50,870 | 1.65 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 530 | $39,440 | $31,420 | $51,540 | 0.87 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,540 | $39,150 | $36,960 | $66,300 | 1.17 |
| Richmond, VA | 350 | $39,120 | $37,260 | $52,280 | 1.15 |
| Columbia, SC | 300 | $38,570 | $30,970 | $48,260 | 1.69 |
| Tulsa, OK | 370 | $38,390 | $34,250 | $49,960 | 1.79 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $38,360 | $37,500 | $57,650 | 1.28 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,040 | $38,240 | $36,690 | $48,150 | 2.02 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 340 | $37,590 | $29,060 | $50,160 | 1.09 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 770 | $37,570 | $35,530 | $49,360 | 1.48 |
| Birmingham, AL | 340 | $37,270 | $31,600 | $48,820 | 1.41 |
The median is $45,570 a year ($21.91 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,700 and the highest-paid tenth over $61,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
71,010 in May 2025, and BLS projects +21.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
Minnesota, with a median of $63,080 (among states with published figures).