Skip to content
Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Part of Health Science, in the Diagnostic Services pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 29-2099.05

What the work is

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.

On a typical day

  • Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications.
  • Assess abnormalities of color vision, such as amblyopia.
  • Assess refractive condition of eyes, using retinoscope.
  • Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery.
  • Calculate corrections for refractive errors.
  • Collect ophthalmic measurements or other diagnostic information, using ultrasound equipment, such as A-scan ultrasound biometry or B-scan ultrasonography equipment.

What it pays

$46,350
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $36,820
Experienced workers reach $78,350
  1. $37k10th
  2. $39k25th
  3. $46kMedian
  4. $60k75th
  5. $78k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $36,820, 25th $39,280, Median $46,350, 75th $59,510, 90th $78,350

About 1,330 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+14.4%

employment change in the Alamo region, 1,481 to 1,694 jobs · U.S. +5%

131

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 13,600

1,481

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 178,800

Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Active Listening4.0
  2. Speaking4.0
  3. Social Perceptiveness3.3
  4. Service Orientation3.1
  5. Critical Thinking3.6
  6. Reading Comprehension3.9
  7. Writing3.5
  8. Coordination3.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less30%
  2. Certificate25%
  3. Some college10%
  4. Associate degree10%
  5. Bachelor's degree25%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • St. Philip's
  1. Respiratory Care

    Degree · Health & Biosciences

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Does this fit you?

Six questions rank every career here by how closely its interest profile follows yours.

Check my interests
  1. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

    Zone 3 Bright outlook

    $38kSan Antonio median
  2. $50kSan Antonio median
  3. Neurodiagnostic Technologists

    Zone 31 Alamo program Bright outlook

    $46kSan Antonio median
  4. Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

    Zone 31 Alamo program Bright outlook

    $78kSan Antonio median
  5. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

    Zone 32 Alamo programs Bright outlook

    $84kSan Antonio median
  6. Medical Assistants

    Zone 32 Alamo programs Bright outlook

    $39kSan Antonio median
  7. Surgical Assistants

    Zone 31 Alamo program Bright outlook

    $79kSan Antonio median
  8. Surgical Technologists

    Zone 32 Alamo programs Bright outlook

    $47kSan Antonio median