Skip to content
Career Change Finder
Healthcare · Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

Also called: Angiographer, Angiography Technologist, Certified Diagnostic Ophthalmic Sonographer (CDOS), Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT), Certified Ophthalmic Technologist, Certified Retinal Angiographer

Is this career right for me?

Median pay

$50,290

Pay for the broader BLS group “Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other”

Pay range (10th–90th)

$38,180 – $85,270

People employed

182,610

Whole BLS group

Holland code

RCI

Realistic · Conventional · Investigative

Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers

Is this career right for you?

These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.

  1. 1.Do you prefer working indoors?
  2. 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
  3. 3.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
  4. 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
  5. 5.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?

The hard parts

  • Exposure to disease or infection

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists pay by state

Highest-paying states

Wyoming$80,520
Delaware$78,650
Washington$62,090
Maine$61,490
Massachusetts$60,500

Lowest-paying states

Mississippi$39,010
Louisiana$39,730
Arkansas$42,820

Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other”.

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists salary in every state →

What ophthalmic medical technologists do

  1. 01Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.
  2. 02Take and document patients' medical histories.
  3. 03Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements, such as axial length measurements, of the eye or surrounding tissue.
  4. 04Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.
  5. 05Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
  6. 06Perform slit lamp biomicroscopy procedures to diagnose disorders of the eye, such as retinitis, presbyopia, cataracts, or retinal detachment.

Skills that matter most

  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Active Learning

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • English Language
  • Education and Training
  • Mathematics

Work styles that stand out

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cautiousness

Education and first steps

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)30%
Post-Secondary Certificate25%
Some College Courses10%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10%
Bachelor's Degree15%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate10%

Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.

How people get started

  • Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
  • Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
  • On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
  • A professional certification is often expected.

Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.

Interest fit (Holland code)

Realistic5.41
Investigative4.71
Artistic1.12
Social4.32
Enterprising2.02
Conventional4.73

O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.

Career changes

Change from ophthalmic medical technologists

See all jobs for former ophthalmic medical technologists →

Change into ophthalmic medical technologists

Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).

Jobs similar to ophthalmic medical technologists →

Majors that lead here

  • Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant
  • Radiologist Assistant
  • Electroneurodiagnostic/Electroencephalographic Technology/Technologist
  • Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist
  • Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
  • Gene/Genetic Therapy
  • Cardiopulmonary Technology/Technologist
  • Radiation Protection/Health Physics Technician
  • Polysomnography
  • Hyperbaric Medicine Technology/Technician
  • Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Technology/Technician
  • Orthopedic Technology/Technician

From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.

Free help near you

You can get free career counseling, job search help and, if you qualify, help paying for training through American Job Centers, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Find an American Job CenterFind training programs

Links go to CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Keep exploring

Sources. O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0): description, tasks, skills, knowledge, work styles, education, interests and work context. Pay and employment: BLS OEWS May 2025 (national and state). Majors: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Data Sources & Licenses