Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Occupation · SOC 29-2057.00
Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.
Also called: Certified Ophthalmic Surgical Assistant · Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) · Ophthalmic Assistant · Ophthalmic Tech (Ophthalmic Technician) · Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Certified Ophthalmic Medical Tech) · Certified Ophthalmic Technician-Surgical Assistant (COT-SA) · Health Technician (Health Tech) · Ophthalmic Diagnostic Sonographer · Ophthalmic Medical Assistant · Ophthalmic Medical Technician (Ophthalmic Medical Tech) · Certified Retinal Angiographer · Eyecare Advisor
Job family: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-29-2057-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Growing fast employment outlook (+19.8% by 2034)
- 12,500 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $44,080/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
32nd-percentile task overlap — yet about 12,500 openings a year (+19.8% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Moderate | 50th | 0.1 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 50th | 0.6 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 1st | 0.0 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.3), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.6). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Growing fast · +19.8% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 12,500 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 78,800 → 94,400 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians sits at the 63rd percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
35% mean task exposure (2025)
63rd percentile of 427 placed occupations
−4 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants · 3256 | 35% | Gradient 1 |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 20 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Take and document patients' medical histories. Core · importance 5.0
- Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure. Core · importance 4.9
- Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes. Core · importance 4.9
- Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests. Core · importance 4.9
- Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements. Core · importance 4.9
- Measure and record lens power, using lensometers. Core · importance 4.9
- Administer topical ophthalmic or oral medications. Core · importance 4.8
- Conduct visual field tests to measure field of vision. Core · importance 4.7
- Assist physicians in performing ophthalmic procedures, including surgery. Core · importance 4.7
- Measure corneal curvature with keratometers or ophthalmometers to aid in the diagnosis of conditions, such as astigmatism. Core · importance 4.7
- Conduct ocular motility tests to measure function of eye muscles. Core · importance 4.6
- Clean or sterilize ophthalmic or surgical instruments. Core · importance 4.6
- Maintain ophthalmic instruments or equipment. Core · importance 4.5
- Instruct patients in the care and use of contact lenses. Core · importance 4.3
- Assess refractive conditions of eyes, using retinoscopes. Core · importance 4.1
- Call patients to inquire about their post-operative status or recovery. Core · importance 4.0
- Assist patients to insert or remove contact lenses. Core · importance 3.9
- Conduct binocular disparity tests to assess depth perception. Core · importance 3.6
- Adjust or make minor repairs to spectacles or eyeglasses. Supplemental · importance 2.7
- Assist patients to select eyewear. Supplemental · importance 2.7
Emerging tasks
Newer responsibilities O*NET has flagged as growing for this occupation.
- Order supplies.
- Perform examinations using ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.
Work activities
- Administer non-intravenous medications.
- Test patient vision.
- Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
- Instruct patients in the use of assistive equipment.
- Monitor patients following surgeries or other treatments.
- Sterilize medical equipment or instruments.
- Clean medical equipment or facilities.
- Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
- Record patient medical histories.
- Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
- Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
- Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.
- Recommend types of assistive devices.
- Assist healthcare practitioners during surgery.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.3 | |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.2 | |
| English Language | 4.0 | |
| Mathematics | 3.3 | |
| Administrative | 2.9 | |
| Education and Training | 2.8 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.7 | |
| Psychology | 2.6 |
Abilities
| Oral Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.9 | |
| Near Vision | 3.9 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.6 | |
| Written Expression | 3.4 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.4 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.3 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.1 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.1 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.0 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.0 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Far Vision | 3.0 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.9 | |
| Control Precision | 2.9 | |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.9 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 3.6 | |
| Speaking | 3.3 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Writing | 3.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Transferable skills
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 | |
| Instructing | 2.6 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- Postsecondary nondegree award · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Health Professions and Related Programs . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 59.1% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 27.3% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.1% | |
| Some College Courses | 4.5% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Interest areas
| Health Care Service | 6.3 | |
| Medical Science | 3.9 | |
| Life Science | 3.2 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 2.4 | |
| Teaching/Education | 2.4 | |
| Personal Service | 2.2 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 2.2 | |
| Social Service | 2.0 | |
| Office Work | 1.9 |
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 5.3 | |
| Investigative | 4.8 | |
| Social | 4.6 | |
| Conventional | 4.4 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 3.0 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.8 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.3 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $34,210 |
| 25th percentile | $37,100 |
| Median (50th) | $44,080 |
| 75th percentile | $49,730 |
| 90th percentile | $60,810 |
| People employed | 76,520 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 71,810 | $44,440 |
| Offices of Optometrists · National industry | 21,020 | $37,600 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 3,120 | $35,960 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 720 | $57,320 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 310 | $54,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 180 | $47,440 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 120 | $58,400 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | — | $37,740 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | — | $50,350 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Optometrists · National industry | 277.66× | 21,020 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 6.26× | 71,810 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 0.4× | 3,120 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 0.13× | 180 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 0.11× | 720 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 0.09× | 120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.07× | 310 |
Related occupations
Part of the Healthcare & Human Services career cluster.
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists · 29-2099.05 Compare →
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians · 29-2031.00 Compare →
- Medical Assistants · 31-9092.00 Compare →
- Surgical Assistants · 29-9093.00 Compare →
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists · 29-2099.01 Compare →
- Endoscopy Technicians · 31-9099.02 Compare →
- Surgical Technologists · 29-2055.00 Compare →
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians · 29-2034.00 Compare →
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers · 29-2032.00 Compare →
- Respiratory Therapists · 29-1126.00 Compare →
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric · 29-1241.00 Compare →
- Pediatric Surgeons · 29-1243.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Postsecondary nondegree award · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Health Professions and Related Programs · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 63rd percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians show 32nd-percentile AI task overlap — and about 12,500 annual U.S. openings
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians rank in the 32nd percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 12,500 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be growing fast (+19.8%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $44,080, across about 76,520 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians show 32nd-percentile AI task overlap — and about 12,500 annual U.S. openings • Ophthalmic Medical Technicians rank in the 32nd percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 12,500 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be growing fast (+19.8%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $44,080, across about 76,520 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Ophthalmic Medical Technicians". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2057-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Ophthalmic Medical Technicians." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2057-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Ophthalmic Medical Technicians. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2057-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-29-2057-00,
title = {Ophthalmic Medical Technicians},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-29-2057-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.