SOC 29-2057 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians — San Jose
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · 9 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in San Jose, CA comes to $51,300 a year, ahead of the national median of $45,570 by 12.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in San Jose, CA comes to $51,300 a year, ahead of the national median of $45,570 by 12.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $51,300 and $81,490. The lowest tenth earn under $49,940, while the highest tenth earn more than $98,230.
Employment stands at 340, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Santa Rosa leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $102,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 475th of 574 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,940 | +9.6% |
| 25th | $51,300 | +12.6% |
| Median (50th) | $51,300 | +12.6% |
| 75th | $81,490 | +78.8% |
| 90th | $98,230 | +115.6% |
| Mean | $68,910 | +51.2% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa | $102,540 | 40 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $63,300 | 420 | |
| 3 | Los Angeles | $60,600 | — | |
| 4 | San Diego | $60,440 | 310 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $49,460 | 130 | |
| 6 | Riverside | $47,680 | 210 | |
| 7 | Bakersfield | $46,850 | 70 | |
| 8 | Fresno | $46,500 | 80 | |
| 9 | Oxnard | $44,810 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Jose run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $51,300 buys what $46,341 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 1.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$46,341US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,300 a year, 12.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,940 to $98,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Santa Rosa, at $102,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in San Jose, CA?
The median annual wage is $51,300, or $24.67 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $45,570, so pay in San Jose, CA is 12.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Jose, CA earns more than $98,230 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,940 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Santa Rosa, at $102,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in San Jose, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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