What You Need to Know About 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
- Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
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Skills Needed to be an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
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
- Optical Laboratory Mechanic
- Grinder
- Lens Polisher
- Contact Lens Technician
- Contact Lens Manufacturer
Is There Job 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.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician Average Salary
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 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?
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
Becoming an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?
What work experience do I need to become an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician?
Where Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar 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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