All About Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Example of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job 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?
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
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Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Skills
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Other Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Titles
- Precision Lens Centerer and Edger
- Surfacer
- Precision Lens Grinder
- Beveler
- Polisher
What Kind of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 3,700 job openings in this field each year.

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
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 each U.S. state?
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 |
What Tools & Technology do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Use?
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
How to Become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
What education is needed to be an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
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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