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Certified ophthalmic assistant salary
Average certified ophthalmic assistant salary
$42,724
Average Certified Ophthalmic Assistant Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant stands at $42,724 per year. This figure can vary widely depending on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of healthcare facility. For instance, those working in urban centers or specialized clinics may earn more compared to their counterparts in rural areas.
Salary by State
In states like California and New York, certified ophthalmic assistants can earn significantly higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for eye care services. States with the highest average salaries include:
- California: $51,000
- New York: $49,500
- Massachusetts: $46,000
Additionally, certified ophthalmic assistants can explore various roles within ophthalmology, including surgical assistants and administrative positions, which may offer enhanced earning potential. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for career advancement in this field.
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Where can a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant earn more?
Certified ophthalmic assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average certified ophthalmic assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for certified ophthalmic assistants are Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest average certified ophthalmic assistant salary states are Georgia, Kansas, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for certified ophthalmic assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $48,197 | $23.17 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $46,996 | $22.59 |
| 3 | Idaho | $44,526 | $21.41 |
| 4 | Washington | $49,561 | $23.83 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $41,709 | $20.05 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $42,963 | $20.66 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $47,591 | $22.88 |
| 8 | Nevada | $47,835 | $23.00 |
| 9 | Ohio | $41,687 | $20.04 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $45,673 | $21.96 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $41,373 | $19.89 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $46,956 | $22.57 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $46,518 | $22.36 |
| 14 | California | $47,466 | $22.82 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $42,893 | $20.62 |
| 16 | Utah | $43,405 | $20.87 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| 18 | Delaware | $44,192 | $21.25 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $46,008 | $22.12 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $40,223 | $19.34 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $40,277 | $19.36 |
| 22 | Maine | $40,415 | $19.43 |
| 23 | Colorado | $45,072 | $21.67 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $41,798 | $20.10 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $48,557 | $23.34 |
| 26 | Montana | $43,751 | $21.03 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| 28 | Alaska | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| 29 | Arizona | $39,943 | $19.20 |
| 30 | Michigan | $41,797 | $20.09 |
| 31 | Maryland | $43,022 | $20.68 |
| 32 | Missouri | $39,074 | $18.79 |
| 33 | New York | $40,071 | $19.26 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $38,169 | $18.35 |
| 35 | Vermont | $42,094 | $20.24 |
| 36 | Indiana | $39,443 | $18.96 |
| 37 | Texas | $38,134 | $18.33 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $37,465 | $18.01 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $42,493 | $20.43 |
| 40 | Georgia | $35,963 | $17.29 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $37,501 | $18.03 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $37,352 | $17.96 |
| 43 | Illinois | $36,447 | $17.52 |
| 44 | Virginia | $36,248 | $17.43 |
| 45 | Iowa | $36,205 | $17.41 |
| 46 | Kansas | $35,786 | $17.20 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $36,929 | $17.75 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $32,400 | $15.58 |
| 49 | Florida | $33,695 | $16.20 |
| 50 | Alabama | $28,432 | $13.67 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $35,159 | $16.90 |
Highest paying cities for certified ophthalmic assistants
The highest-paying cities for certified ophthalmic assistants are Vancouver, WA, Palo Alto, CA, and Saint Paul, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $50,342 | $24.20 |
| 2 | Palo Alto, CA | $48,787 | $23.46 |
| 3 | Saint Paul, MN | $46,513 | $22.36 |
| 4 | Worcester, MA | $46,316 | $22.27 |
| 5 | Murray, UT | $43,302 | $20.82 |
| 6 | Chapel Hill, NC | $43,287 | $20.81 |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $43,245 | $20.79 |
| 8 | Eau Claire, WI | $42,883 | $20.62 |
| 9 | Syracuse, NY | $39,239 | $18.86 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $38,996 | $18.75 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $38,204 | $18.37 |
| 12 | Rock Hill, SC | $37,980 | $18.26 |
| 13 | Charlottesville, VA | $36,211 | $17.41 |
Certified ophthalmic assistant salary details
A certified ophthalmic assistant's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $61,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a certified ophthalmic assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $42,724 | $3,560 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying certified ophthalmic assistant jobs
The highest paying types of certified ophthalmic assistants are certified retinal angiographer, certified ophthalmic surgical assistant, and ophthalmic medical technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometric Technician | $30,928 | $2,577 | $14.87 | 33,412 |
| Ophthalmic Technician | $44,042 | $3,670 | $21.17 | 19,063 |
Top companies hiring certified ophthalmic assistants now:
Which companies pay certified ophthalmic assistants the most?
Certified ophthalmic assistant salaries at Horizon Laser Vision and Kaiser Permanente are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average certified ophthalmic assistant salary at companies like Sutter Health and CHRISTUS Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horizon Laser Vision | $62,175 | $29.89 |
| 2 | Kaiser Permanente | $47,655 | $22.91 |
| 3 | Sutter Health | $47,579 | $22.87 |
| 4 | CHRISTUS Health | $47,539 | $22.86 |
| 5 | PeaceHealth | $45,519 | $21.88 |
| 6 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $45,188 | $21.73 |
| 7 | Virginia Mason Institute | $45,157 | $21.71 |
| 8 | Children's Health Corporation | $45,152 | $21.71 |
| 9 | Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc | $45,152 | $21.71 |
| 10 | LifePoint Health | $44,887 | $21.58 |
| 11 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $44,872 | $21.57 |
| 12 | Massachusetts Eye and Ear | $44,794 | $21.54 |
| 13 | Medical University of South Carolina | $44,723 | $21.50 |
| 14 | Holzer Health System | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| 15 | Hospital Sisters Health System | $43,948 | $21.13 |
| 16 | SSM Health | $43,112 | $20.73 |
| 17 | Kelsey-Seybold Clinic | $43,037 | $20.69 |
| 18 | Virginia Mason Medical Center | $42,925 | $20.64 |
| 19 | Optum | $42,825 | $20.59 |
| 20 | HealthPartners | $41,377 | $19.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant salary by industry
The average certified ophthalmic assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average certified ophthalmic assistant salary in the technology industry is $45,399, the highest of any industry.
- The average certified ophthalmic assistant salary in the finance industry is $44,984.
- Certified ophthalmic assistants in the education industry earn an average salary of $37,948, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for certified ophthalmic assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $45,399 | $21.83 |
| 2 | Health Care | $44,984 | $21.63 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $41,707 | $20.05 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $39,324 | $18.91 |
| 5 | Education | $37,948 | $18.24 |
High paying certified ophthalmic assistant jobs
Certified ophthalmic assistant salary trends
The average certified ophthalmic assistant salary has risen by $4,570 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average certified ophthalmic assistant earned $38,154 annually, but today, they earn $42,724 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for certified ophthalmic assistants over the last decade.
Compare certified ophthalmic assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average certified ophthalmic assistant salary over time
Compare certified ophthalmic assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Certified ophthalmic assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,700 | $20.54 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $41,600 | $20.00 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $41,100 | $19.78 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $40,400 | $19.44 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $40,000 | $19.24 | +0.5% |
Recently added certified ophthalmic assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitedhealth Group Inc. | Certified Ophthalmic Assistant | Seattle, WA | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Dartmouth Health | Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)-Ophthalmology, Per Diem | Keene, NH | 06/19/2025 | $39,006 |
| Cheshire Medical Center | Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)-Ophthalmology, Per Diem | Keene, NH | 06/18/2025 | $39,006 |
| Emory Healthcare/Emory University | Certified Ophthalmic Assistant | Atlanta, GA | 06/17/2025 | $59,688 |
| Virginia Mason Franciscan Health | Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) | Seattle, WA | 06/09/2025 | $57,539 |
| UNC Health Care Systems | Ophthalmic Assistant Certified | Chapel Hill, NC | 06/03/2025 | $42,846 |
| UNC Health Care Systems | Ophthalmic Assistant Certified | Chapel Hill, NC | 05/24/2025 | $42,846 |
| Unitypoint Health | Certified OT Assistant 00-Psychiatric Ot-Adolescent FTE | Madison, WI | 05/16/2025 | $59,480 |
| Virginia Mason Franciscan Health | Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) | Seattle, WA | 05/15/2025 | $57,539 |
| Allina Health Systems | Ophthalmic Assistant Non-Certified | Minneapolis, MN | 05/11/2025 | $42,408 |
Certified ophthalmic assistant salary FAQs
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