Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: $74K vs $46K Median Pay

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: what changes?

Consider Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians if you want to conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic, therapeutic, or research purposes. Consider Ophthalmic Medical Technicians if you would rather assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. Entry credentials differ: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, associate's degree; Ophthalmic Medical Technicians, postsecondary nondegree award.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Ophthalmic Medical Technicians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

National median pay (2025): $74,310
Route into the job: Associate's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Conduct electrocardiogram (EKG), phonocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress testing, or other cardiovascular tests to record patients' cardiac activity, using specialized electronic test equipment, recording devices, or laboratory instruments.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,400

Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians brief

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

National median pay (2025): $45,570
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Take and document patients' medical histories.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 11,800

Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Ophthalmic Medical Technicians brief

How the national numbers differ

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians has the edge on median pay

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians is at $74,310, compared with $45,570 for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is at 21.4% projected growth, compared with 3.7% projected growth for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians is at 11,800 annual openings, compared with 3,400 annual openings for Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians.

54.3/ 100

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

58/ 100

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Dimension	Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians	Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Median pay (2025)	$74,310	$45,570
Pay percentile	63.9 percentile	18.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	3.7%	21.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	3,400	11,800
2025 employment	64,500	72,500
How you qualify	Associate's degree	Postsecondary nondegree award
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians brief Read Ophthalmic Medical Technicians brief

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

How the national numbers differ

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians has the edge on median pay

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians vs Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

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