Ophthalmic Medical Technicians vs Psychiatric Technicians: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians vs Psychiatric Technicians: what changes?

Consider Ophthalmic Medical Technicians if you want to assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. Consider Psychiatric Technicians if you would rather care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Psychiatric Technicians (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians and Psychiatric 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

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

Psychiatric Technicians

National median pay (2025): $45,130
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 17,000

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Psychiatric Technicians brief

How the national numbers differ

Psychiatric Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Psychiatric Technicians is at 17,000 annual openings, compared with 11,800 annual openings for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

Psychiatric Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Psychiatric Technicians is at 22.3% projected growth, compared with 21.4% projected growth for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians.

58/ 100

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

60.1/ 100

Psychiatric 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

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians vs Psychiatric Technicians

Dimension	Ophthalmic Medical Technicians	Psychiatric Technicians
Median pay (2025)	$45,570	$45,130
Pay percentile	18.8 percentile	18.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	21.4%	22.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	11,800	17,000
2025 employment	72,500	161,500
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award	Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

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

Read Ophthalmic Medical Technicians brief Read Psychiatric Technicians brief

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians vs Psychiatric Technicians: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Psychiatric Technicians

How the national numbers differ

Psychiatric Technicians has the edge on annual openings

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Psychiatric Technicians has the edge on projected growth

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians vs Psychiatric Technicians

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