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Ophthalmic assistant salary
Average ophthalmic assistant salary
$43,217
Understanding the Ophthalmic Assistant Salary
The average salary for an ophthalmic assistant is approximately $43,217 annually. This figure can vary based on several factors including geographic location, years of experience, and specific employer. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to their cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
In addition to location, experience plays a significant role in salary adjustments. Entry-level ophthalmic assistants may start with lower salaries, while those with specialized training or certifications can command higher wages. According to recent data, experienced ophthalmic assistants in metropolitan areas might see salaries exceeding $50,000.
Job opportunities for ophthalmic assistants are projected to grow, driven by an increasing aging population that requires eye care services. Hospitals, private practices, and specialized clinics are common employers seeking qualified candidates. The demand for skilled ophthalmic assistants ensures that individuals entering this field can look forward to numerous career advancement opportunities.
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Where can an Ophthalmic Assistant earn more?
Ophthalmic assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average ophthalmic assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for ophthalmic assistants are Hawaii, Oregon, and Nevada. The lowest average ophthalmic assistant salary states are Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for ophthalmic assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| 2 | Idaho | $44,986 | $21.63 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $46,159 | $22.19 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $46,425 | $22.32 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $44,363 | $21.33 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $42,377 | $20.37 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $43,021 | $20.68 |
| 8 | Oregon | $48,758 | $23.44 |
| 9 | Ohio | $42,254 | $20.31 |
| 10 | Nevada | $48,454 | $23.30 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $46,141 | $22.18 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $47,227 | $22.71 |
| 13 | Colorado | $45,423 | $21.84 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $47,909 | $23.03 |
| 15 | California | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $43,981 | $21.14 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $47,378 | $22.78 |
| 18 | Delaware | $44,832 | $21.55 |
| 19 | Utah | $43,684 | $21.00 |
| 20 | Michigan | $41,971 | $20.18 |
| 21 | Maryland | $43,621 | $20.97 |
| 22 | Montana | $43,917 | $21.11 |
| 23 | Arizona | $40,663 | $19.55 |
| 24 | Vermont | $42,024 | $20.20 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $40,985 | $19.70 |
| 26 | Alaska | $40,749 | $19.59 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $40,050 | $19.25 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $41,620 | $20.01 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $49,452 | $23.77 |
| 30 | Indiana | $39,843 | $19.16 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $42,537 | $20.45 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $41,918 | $20.15 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $38,723 | $18.62 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $43,184 | $20.76 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $38,115 | $18.32 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $38,206 | $18.37 |
| 37 | Maine | $40,290 | $19.37 |
| 38 | New York | $40,459 | $19.45 |
| 39 | Texas | $38,129 | $18.33 |
| 40 | Kansas | $36,277 | $17.44 |
| 41 | Georgia | $37,104 | $17.84 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $38,943 | $18.72 |
| 43 | Missouri | $37,878 | $18.21 |
| 44 | Illinois | $36,711 | $17.65 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $38,287 | $18.41 |
| 46 | Iowa | $36,466 | $17.53 |
| 47 | Florida | $35,390 | $17.01 |
| 48 | Virginia | $37,635 | $18.09 |
| 49 | Alabama | $29,241 | $14.06 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $35,538 | $17.09 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $33,274 | $16.00 |
Highest paying cities for ophthalmic assistants
The highest-paying cities for ophthalmic assistants are Vancouver, WA, Eugene, OR, and Beverly Hills, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $49,117 | $23.61 |
| 2 | Eugene, OR | $49,095 | $23.60 |
| 3 | Beverly Hills, CA | $47,846 | $23.00 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $46,679 | $22.44 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,574 | $22.39 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $46,025 | $22.13 |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $45,540 | $21.89 |
| 8 | Chapel Hill, NC | $44,372 | $21.33 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $43,956 | $21.13 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $43,651 | $20.99 |
| 11 | Eau Claire, WI | $42,859 | $20.61 |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | $40,671 | $19.55 |
| 13 | Fargo, ND | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $38,106 | $18.32 |
| 15 | Charlottesville, VA | $37,532 | $18.04 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $37,286 | $17.93 |
| 17 | Overland Park, KS | $36,289 | $17.45 |
| 18 | Springfield, IL | $36,191 | $17.40 |
Ophthalmic assistant salary details
An ophthalmic assistant's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an ophthalmic assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| Average | $43,217 | $3,601 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying ophthalmic assistant jobs
The highest paying types of 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 ophthalmic assistants now:
Which companies pay ophthalmic assistants the most?
Ophthalmic assistant salaries at Eye Consultants of Atlanta and Horizon Laser Vision are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average ophthalmic assistant salary at companies like Virginia Eye Institute and Sharp HealthCare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eye Consultants of Atlanta | $62,509 | $30.05 |
| 2 | Horizon Laser Vision | $62,488 | $30.04 |
| 3 | Virginia Eye Institute | $57,564 | $27.68 |
| 4 | Sharp HealthCare | $50,817 | $24.43 |
| 5 | OSF HealthCare | $50,742 | $24.40 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $50,103 | $24.09 |
| 7 | Boston Medical Center | $49,196 | $23.65 |
| 8 | Wheaton Eye Clinic | $48,588 | $23.36 |
| 9 | Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc. | $48,518 | $23.33 |
| 10 | Springfield Clinic | $48,087 | $23.12 |
| 11 | Kaiser Permanente | $47,982 | $23.07 |
| 12 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $47,587 | $22.88 |
| 13 | Northwestern Medicine | $47,369 | $22.77 |
| 14 | MaineGeneral Health | $46,663 | $22.43 |
| 15 | Pinehurst Surgical Clinic | $46,545 | $22.38 |
| 16 | UCHealth | $46,461 | $22.34 |
| 17 | PeaceHealth | $46,181 | $22.20 |
| 18 | Retina Consultants of Texas | $45,987 | $22.11 |
| 19 | Virginia Mason Institute | $45,763 | $22.00 |
| 20 | LifePoint Health | $45,710 | $21.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Ophthalmic assistant salary trends
The average ophthalmic assistant salary has risen by $4,623 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average ophthalmic assistant earned $38,594 annually, but today, they earn $43,217 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for ophthalmic assistants over the last decade.
Compare ophthalmic assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average ophthalmic assistant salary over time
Compare ophthalmic assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Ophthalmic assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $43,200 | $20.78 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $42,100 | $20.23 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $41,600 | $20.01 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $40,900 | $19.67 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $40,500 | $19.46 | +0.5% |
Recently added ophthalmic assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carle Health | Ophthalmic Assistant-Eye Department | Champaign, IL | 06/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| Northstar Medical Management | Rocky Mountain Eye Center, Butte-Ophthalmic Assistant | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 06/26/2025 | $40,446 |
| Mayo Clinic Health System | Ophthalmic Assistant | La Crosse, WI | 06/20/2025 | $42,930 |
| Emory Healthcare/Emory University | Ophthalmic Assistant | LaGrange, GA | 06/19/2025 | $46,749 |
| Unitedhealth Group Inc. | Ophthalmic Assistant | Seattle, WA | 06/18/2025 | $37,023 |
| Sutter Bay Medical Foundation | Ophthalmic Assistant II | Sunnyvale, CA | 06/17/2025 | $79,431 |
| Northwestern Medicine | Ophthalmic Assistant Ophthalmology Days | Naperville, IL | 06/11/2025 | $49,754 |
| Imatters | Ophthalmic Assistant-See Your Future With US! | Daytona Beach, FL | 06/11/2025 | $37,566 |
| Guthrie North America Inc. | Ophthalmic Assistant/Photographer-Ophthalmology | Vestal, NY | 06/10/2025 | $38,714 |
| Prohealth Resource Group | Ophthalmic Assistant | Lancaster, MA | 06/10/2025 | $37,566 |
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