by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist involves the study of Ophthalmic Technician/technologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Ophthalmologists And Optometrists In Examining And Treating Patients With Vision Problems, Vision Disorders, And Eye Diseases. Includes Instruction In Taking Patient Histories, Administering Directed Treatments And Topical Medications, Diagnostic Test Procedures And Equipment Operation, Anatomical And Functional Ocular Measurements, Patient Care And Instruction, Ophthalmic And Surgical Equipment Maintenance, Safety And Sterilization Procedures, And Office Administrative Procedures. Read on to learn the essential details every ophthalmic technician/technologist student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering ophthalmic technician/technologist programs.
Nationwide, ophthalmic technician/technologist is a popular field of study, with 148 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist Schools ranking analyzes these 18 schools to determine the best overall colleges for ophthalmic technician/technologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ophthalmic technician/technologist programs later in this article.
Programs in Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations ophthalmic technician/technologist graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a ophthalmic technician/technologist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a ophthalmic technician/technologist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several ophthalmic technician/technologist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 22 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 75 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 49 |
People currently working in careers related to ophthalmic technician/technologist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 59.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 27.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.1% |
| Some college courses | 4.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in ophthalmic technician/technologist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying ophthalmic technician/technologist can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to ophthalmic technician/technologist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to ophthalmic technician/technologist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 654,936 | 3.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of ophthalmic technician/technologist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,118 |
| 4 years | $36,016 |
| 5 years | $38,680 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for ophthalmic technician/technologist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers ophthalmic technician/technologist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $51,958 |
With 18 different ophthalmic technician/technologist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased ophthalmic technician/technologist school rankings to help you.
Those considering ophthalmic technician/technologist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician | 352 |
| Optometric Technician/Assistant | 201 |
| Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions, Other | 40 |
| Orthoptics/Orthoptist | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
