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Job outlook for ophthalmic assistants in the United States
Ophthalmic assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected ophthalmic assistant job growth rate is 16% from 2018-2028.
About 117,800 new jobs for ophthalmic assistants are projected over the next decade.
Ophthalmic assistant salaries have increased 7% for ophthalmic assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 43,102 ophthalmic assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 21,559 active ophthalmic assistant job openings in the US.
The average ophthalmic assistant salary is $43,217.
Are ophthalmic assistant jobs in demand?
Ophthalmic assistant job and salary trends over time
Ophthalmic assistant jobs over time
Ophthalmic assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43,102 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 39,602 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 38,717 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 34,786 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 31,656 | 0.01% |
Average ophthalmic assistant salary over time
Ophthalmic assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,217 | $20.78 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $42,078 | $20.23 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $41,611 | $20.01 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $40,904 | $19.67 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $40,472 | $19.46 | +0.5% |
Ophthalmic assistant jobs by state
Most common states for ophthalmic assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 127 | 2% |
| 2 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 77 | 1% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 47 | 1% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 43 | 1% |
| 5 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 40 | 1% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 34 | 1% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 34 | 1% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 31 | 1% |
| 9 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 16 | 1% |
| 10 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 15 | 1% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 11 | 1% |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 10 | 1% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 5 | 1% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 4 | 1% |
| 15 | California | 39,536,653 | 74 | 0% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 38 | 0% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 7 | 0% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 2 | 0% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 2 | 0% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for ophthalmic assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheaton | 5 | 9% | $36,730 |
| 2 | Middletown | 3 | 6% | $40,829 |
| 3 | Mason | 2 | 6% | $40,779 |
| 4 | Branford | 1 | 4% | $47,546 |
| 5 | Apache Junction | 1 | 3% | $40,536 |
| 6 | Beverly Hills | 1 | 3% | $47,846 |
| 7 | Cincinnati | 6 | 2% | $40,662 |
| 8 | Duluth | 2 | 2% | $46,679 |
| 9 | Ames | 1 | 2% | $36,536 |
| 10 | Bartlett | 1 | 2% | $36,755 |
| 11 | Casa Grande | 1 | 2% | $40,260 |
| 12 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $46,025 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $37,286 |
| 14 | Saint Paul | 2 | 1% | $46,477 |
| 15 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $46,371 |
| 16 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $45,390 |
| 17 | Buffalo | 1 | 0% | $38,839 |
Ophthalmic Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of ophthalmic assistant experts
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
Robyn Tarpley
Director of Health and Medical SciencesPennsylvania Institute of Technology
Health and Medical Sciences Department
What skills will help Ophthalmic Assistants earn the most?
Robyn Tarpley: NHA cert- being assertive and professional.