Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.
Table of contents
What they do
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure the thickness of the coating on lenses.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians clean-finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents. They mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
A typical day for an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician will also include:
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure the thickness of the coating on lenses.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians also control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities. They may also repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames. They might also select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
In addition, they layout lenses and trace lens outline on glass, using templates.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
To some Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians, it is also their responsibility to set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
53% said they were satisfied with their job and 63% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Demand for this career is growing fast.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $24,120 to $28,290 per year or $12 to $14 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $51,630 | $25 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $41,810 | $20 |
| Median | $34,440 | $17 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $28,290 | $14 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $24,120 | $12 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | $51980 | $24.99 |
| Federal Executive Branch | $50030 | $24.05 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | $44020 | $21.16 |
| Offices of Physicians | $40370 | $19.41 |
| Employment Services | $36620 | $17.61 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $36110 | $17.36 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $34720 | $16.69 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | $34670 | $16.67 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $34470 | $16.57 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 8660 | $36110 | $17.36 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | 6100 | $34670 | $16.67 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 4060 | $34720 | $16.69 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 2420 | $34470 | $16.57 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2190 | $44020 | $21.16 |
| Offices of Physicians | 1840 | $40370 | $19.41 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 250 | $51980 | $24.99 |
| Employment Services | 140 | $36620 | $17.61 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 110 | $50030 | $24.05 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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