What You Need to Know About 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.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Responsibilities
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
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Qualities of an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
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:
- Optical Goods Drilling Machine Operator
- Test Technician
- Edge Grinder
- Eyeglass Assembler
- Spectacle Truer
Is There Going to be Demand for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians?
In the United States, there were 29,100 jobs for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician in 2016. 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.
What is the Average Salary of an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
The average yearly salary of an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician ranges between $22,360 and $50,200.
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
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Electronic medical record EMR software
How to Become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
What kind of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those interested in being an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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