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Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Iowa

Thinking about a career as an Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in Iowa? Here’s what you need to know. 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. Excludes “Opticians, Dispensing ” (29-2081).

What do Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Make in Iowa?

For a ophthalmic laboratory technicians working in Iowa, wages run about $33,770 per year (or about $16.23/hour).Earnings range from $29,370 at the 10th percentile to $50,960 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$29,370	$14.12
25th percentile	$30,390	$14.61
Median (50th)	$33,770	$16.23
75th percentile	$37,740	$18.14
90th percentile	$50,960	$24.50

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa compared to the national average — is 1.00.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn a median of $37,805 per year ($18.18/hour), below the Iowa median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 764,007 ophthalmic laboratory technicians across the United States. In Iowa alone, about 190 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 280 ophthalmic laboratory technicians.

Top Iowa Metros for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

The metro areas below employ the most ophthalmic laboratory technicians in Iowa.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	60	$35,250
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	40	$33,600

Top States for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians Employment

View the states that employ the most ophthalmic laboratory technicians work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	3,650
Florida	1,770
California	1,470
New York	1,420
Puerto Rico	1,190
Georgia	1,040
Minnesota	1,020
Illinois	560
Kentucky	460
Pennsylvania	450
North Carolina	420
Virginia	410
Indiana	390
Missouri	350
Colorado	340
Louisiana	340
Maryland	330
Washington	280
Nevada	270
Wisconsin	270

Highest-Paying States for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Where ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn the most: ophthalmic laboratory technicians.

State	Annual Median Salary
Connecticut	$60,700
Idaho	$50,880
California	$49,430
Washington	$47,860
Michigan	$47,280
Colorado	$46,320
Maryland	$45,620
Oregon	$45,580
New Hampshire	$44,450
Wisconsin	$44,370

Skills

Top ophthalmic laboratory technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, ophthalmic laboratory technicians typically:

• Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
• Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
• Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
• Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
• Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
• Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
• Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
• Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
• Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
• Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
• 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.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Working with Computers
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science

Related Careers

Related occupations to ophthalmic laboratory technicians include:

• Photonics Technicians
• Opticians, Dispensing
• Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
• Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Also Known As

Artificial Glass Eye Maker, Artificial Plastic Eye Maker, Bench Hand, Benchroom Shop Optician, Bevel Polisher, Beveler, Contact Lens Blocker, Contact Lens Blocker and Cutter, Contact Lens Cutter, Contact Lens Lathe Operator, Contact Lens Manufacturer, Contact Lens Technician, Cylinder Grinder, Cylinder Worker, Diamond Grinder.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-9083.00