Salary
Read the articles below for imformation on salary trends for ophthalmic medical personnel. Is getting certified at all worth the effort? Is it worth it to move through the different levels of certification? What factors affect how much money you will make in this field? Find out how you can increase your worth to your employer.
The bottom line is that it is definitely worth getting certified and it is definitely worth moving up through the levels of certification. A 2026 internet survey of ophthalmic medical personnel pay showed that the average experienced certified technician can make about $13K more per year than the average certified assistant. Ophthalmologists surveyed believe that certfied personnel increase the quality and productivity of an ophthalmic practice.
Click here to go to the step by step certification planner.
Scroll down for separate articles on salary trends for ophthalmic assistants, technicians, and technologists.
How much money can I make as an ophthalmic technician? Of course this is basic information you want when considering a job or career as an ophthalmic technician.
Generally, an experienced ophthalmic technician can make from $30 to $45 an hour, in 2026 dollars. Keep reading to find out what factors affect the wide spread in this statement.
Read more: How much money can I make as an ophthalmic technician?
What are the salary trends for an ophthalmic assistant?
According to a 2026 internet search, a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) in the United States typically earns about $45,000–$70,000 per year, depending on experience, location, employer, and specialty. [salary.com], [opterio.com], [payscale.com], [ziprecruiter.com].
Entry-level COA: approximately $35,000–$45,000/year
Mid-career COA: approximately $45,000–$55,000/year
Experienced COA: $55,000–$65,000+, with some positions exceeding that in high-cost regions or specialty practices.
What have been the salary trends for an ophthalmic technician?
A Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) generally earns more than a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) because the COT credential reflects a higher level of training and responsibility.
Typical U.S. Salary Range (2026 internet survey):
From salary.com - Average $67,900/year, Range $59,300–$72,100
From ziprecruiter.com - Average $64,000/year, Range $39,000-$79,000
Experience-Based Expectations:
New COT: $40,000–$55,000
Experienced COT: $60,000–$75,000+
Highly experienced COTs in specialty practices or high-cost markets: can exceed $80,000/year. [ziprecruiter.com], [salary.com]
What have been the salary trends for an ophthalmic technologist?
Our internet survey in 2026 indicates that the general salary range for certified ophthalmic medical technologists (COMT) is $53,000 to $86,000. The higher end salaries are earned by those with supervisory and managerial duties. Top earners can earn $100,000 plus.
The last JCAHPO survey was in 2020. According to the 2020 salary survey, the average salary for certified ophthalmic medical technologist respondents to the survey was about $80K per year for salaried technologists and $31 per hour for those paid by the hour. The majority of respondents were paid per hour. Those who responded that they were paid on a fixed "salary" basis made significantly more money, probably reflecting that they were in supervisory roles, but this was not indicated.
The factors that affect your salary are generalizations, meaning they will not necessarily apply to you in your particular job situation. If your current employer refuses to pay a salary above a certain threshold, no matter how skilled and how efficient you are, then your only option is to find another employer if you want to make more income. In most areas of the country, this is usually a possibility.
Job hopping for minimal improvements in your situation is not a good career strategy. The tech who moves from one job to another for a 50 cent an hour raise in pay may eventually run out of employment possibilities without moving to another metro area. Surveys show that the higher paid employees tend to be those who have the most seniority. The lesson learned is to pick a good employer early on and stick with them. Loyalty usually matters.
Factors that affect your salary:
The quality and productivity of an ophthalmic practice is enhanced by the employment of certified ophthalmic medical personnel as compared to non-certified personnel.
This is the conclusion of a 2008 study by Woolworth et al that surveyed 385 American and Canadian ophthalmologists. Click here to get help with certification or with moving to the next level of certification.
A comparative study of the impact of certified and noncertified ophthalmic medical personnel on practice quality and productivity.
Woodworth KE Jr, Donshik PC, Ehlers WH, Pucel DJ, Anderson LD, Thompson NA.
Kentucky Eye Institute, Lexington, KY, USA.
Eye Contact Lens. 2008 Jan;34(1):28-34.
Abstract:
Read more: Ophthalmic Practice Productivity and OMP Certification