What Does it Take to Be an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Description 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.
What Do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Do On a Daily Basis?
- Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
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Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Required Skills
These are the skills Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Lens Maker
- Optical Instrument Assembler
- Diamond Grinder
- Optical Coating Technician
- Layout Technician
Job Demand for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
There were about 29,100 jobs for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician are Utah, North Dakota, and Kentucky. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Massachusetts, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Average Salary
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians make between $22,360 and $50,200 a year.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians who work in New Hampshire, Maryland, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $29,230 |
| Arizona | $34,010 |
| Arkansas | $29,770 |
| California | $36,400 |
| Colorado | $42,060 |
| Connecticut | $37,240 |
| Florida | $32,490 |
| Georgia | $31,240 |
| Illinois | $38,860 |
| Indiana | $35,880 |
| Iowa | $34,370 |
| Kansas | $30,430 |
| Kentucky | $27,630 |
| Louisiana | $26,240 |
| Maine | $33,640 |
| Maryland | $44,310 |
| Massachusetts | $36,810 |
| Michigan | $34,300 |
| Minnesota | $34,370 |
| Mississippi | $32,550 |
| Missouri | $33,120 |
| Montana | $32,090 |
| Nebraska | $32,550 |
| Nevada | $29,690 |
| New Hampshire | $45,730 |
| New Jersey | $35,000 |
| New Mexico | $33,570 |
| New York | $36,040 |
| North Carolina | $29,870 |
| North Dakota | $33,940 |
| Ohio | $34,680 |
| Oklahoma | $33,550 |
| Oregon | $37,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,130 |
| Rhode Island | $36,710 |
| South Carolina | $33,300 |
| South Dakota | $32,180 |
| Tennessee | $34,240 |
| Texas | $31,050 |
| Utah | $28,570 |
| Vermont | $42,780 |
| Virginia | $33,210 |
| Washington | $38,660 |
| West Virginia | $35,270 |
| Wisconsin | $31,340 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Electronic medical record EMR software
Becoming an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
What kind of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?
Who Employs Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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