What is an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Example 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.
List of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Job Duties
- Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
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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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Lens Cutter
- Optical Element Coater
- Optical Instrument Assembler
- Optical Goods Drill Operator
- Lens Mold Setter
Is There 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.
Do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians is somewhere 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 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 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 do I Become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?
Education needed to be an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician:

What work experience do I need to become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?

Where Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Work

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians work in the following industries:

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References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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