36
/100

SOC 29-2057

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

ModerateFrey/Osborne: 2.9%

Risk Score

โš ๏ธ

36/100

Moderate

US Employment

๐Ÿ‘ฅ

76,520

Total workers

Median Wage

๐Ÿ’ฐ

$44K

$34K โ€“ $61K

Projected Growth

๐Ÿ“ˆ

+19.8%

2023-2033 (BLS)

GenAI Exposure

๐Ÿค–

46/100

Moderate exposure

How we calculate these numbers โ†’

๐Ÿ’ก Ophthalmic Medical Technicians face a risk score of 36/100 โ€” 8 points below the national average of 44. With only 46/100 GenAI exposure, most core tasks remain resistant to current AI capabilities. See our methodology โ†’

๐Ÿ’ก Workers in this field earn $44K. The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths โ†’

๐Ÿ” AI Impact Analysis

With a risk score of 36/100, Ophthalmic Medical Technicians faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like administrative automation of medical billing and coding are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 76,520 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in complex clinical judgment in ambiguous presentations and empathetic patient communication and bedside manner to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.

Will AI Replace Ophthalmic Medical Technicians?

Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths โ†’

โš ๏ธ Top Risk Factors

1

Administrative automation of medical billing and coding

2

Telehealth platforms automating triage and intake

3

Automated patient monitoring and alert systems

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Tasks Safe from Automation

โœ“

Complex clinical judgment in ambiguous presentations

โœ“

Empathetic patient communication and bedside manner

โœ“

Interdisciplinary care coordination

โœ“

Emergency triage requiring rapid human judgment

๐Ÿ“Š Task Automation Breakdown

Based on O*NET task analysis and GenAI exposure scoring. Shows the estimated proportion of this occupation's core tasks that are automatable by current AI, augmented by AI tools, or require essential human skills.

๐Ÿ“‹ O*NET Task Profile

โ€ข

Take and document patients' medical histories.

โ€ข

Conduct tonometry or tonography tests to measure intraocular pressure.

โ€ข

Operate ophthalmic equipment, such as autorefractors, phoropters, tomographs, or retinoscopes.

โ€ข

Take anatomical or functional ocular measurements of the eye or surrounding tissue, such as axial length measurements.

โ€ข

Measure visual acuity, including near, distance, pinhole, or dynamic visual acuity, using appropriate tests.

๐Ÿ’ป Technology Skills

โ€ข

Medical software

โ€ข

Electronic mail software

โ€ข

Spreadsheet software

โ€ข

Office suite software

โ€ข

Presentation software

๐ŸŽ“ Key Knowledge Areas

โ€ข

Customer and Personal Service

โ€ข

Medicine and Dentistry

โ€ข

English Language

โ€ข

Mathematics

โ€ข

Administrative

๐Ÿ“Š vs National Average

Median Wage$44K
$-2K

National avg: $46K

Risk Score36/100
-8

National avg: 44/100

GenAI Exposure46/100
+8

National avg: 38/100

Projected Growth19.8%
+16.1%

National avg: 3.7%

๐Ÿ”„ Career Transition Paths

OccupationRiskWageOverlap
Dentists, All Other Specialists13$226K76%
Occupational Therapists28$98K76%
Orthotists and Prosthetists28$78K76%