Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

General Information

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.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Overall employment of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians is projected to grow 2 percent from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations. Despitelimitedemployment growth, about 9,900 openings for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Related Military Careers

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Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$37,270

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$59,970
$18,320
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 56%
  • Some college 14%
  • Post-secondary certificate 8%
  • Associate's degree 6%
  • Less than high school 4%
  • Master's degree 3%
  • Bachelor's degree 3%
  • First professional degree 1%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Production and Processing
  • Mathematics
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Mechanical
  • Customer and Personal Service

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section