by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Optometric Technician/Assistant explores Optometric Technician/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Optometrists In Providing Patient Care, Administering Examinations And Treatments, And Performing Office Administrative Functions. Includes Instruction In Applied Anatomy And Physiology Of The Eye, Visual Testing, Patient Communication, Patient Preparation, Medications And Administration, Dispensing And Fitting Of Eyeglasses And Contact Lenses, Record-Keeping, And Office Management Skills. Continue reading for the key facts every optometric technician/assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering optometric technician/assistant programs.
In the U.S., optometric technician/assistant is a popular field of study, with 201 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Optometric Technician/Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 16 schools to determine the best overall colleges for optometric technician/assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of optometric technician/assistant programs later in this article.
Programs in Optometric Technician/Assistant develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations optometric technician/assistant graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a optometric technician/assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a optometric technician/assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several optometric technician/assistant 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 | 64 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 108 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29 |
People currently working in careers related to optometric technician/assistant 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 optometric technician/assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying optometric technician/assistant can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to optometric technician/assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to optometric technician/assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 654,936 | 3.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of optometric technician/assistant 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 optometric technician/assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers optometric technician/assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $51,958 |
With 16 different optometric technician/assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased optometric technician/assistant school rankings to help you.
Those considering optometric technician/assistant, 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 |
| Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist | 148 |
| Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions, Other | 40 |
| Orthoptics/Orthoptist | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
