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Military Opticians

Military Career

General Information

Description

Opticians are highly skilled eye care professionals who undergo rigorous and extensive training. They design and dispense eyeglasses, contact lenses, low vision aids, and prosthetic ocular devices for customers. They assist with frame selection and manage clinic offices and may perform diagnostic tests.

Explore this career outside the military

Work Environment

Opticians normally work in optometric clinics.

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

Comparable Industries

  • Health Science

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required

Military Workforce

Opticians in the Military

461

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$76,489

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 45%
  • Associate's degree 25%
  • Post-secondary certificate 25%
  • Some college 4%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Military training

All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Opticians in the Military will gain skills through classroom study and on-the-job experience. Job-specific training content may include: Preparing and fitting glasses and contact lensesVision testingMaintenance of optometric instrumentsPatient careKnowledge of ophthalmic optics, ocular anatomy, and physiologyComprehension of optical laboratory supply and administrationUnderstanding of optical laboratory procedures

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Military training

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All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Opticians in the Military will gain skills through classroom study and on-the-job experience. Job-specific training content may include:

  • Preparing and fitting glasses and contact lenses
  • Vision testing
  • Maintenance of optometric instruments
  • Patient care
  • Knowledge of ophthalmic optics, ocular anatomy, and physiology
  • Comprehension of optical laboratory supply and administration
  • Understanding of optical laboratory procedures

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Production and Processing
  • Mathematics
  • Education and Training

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

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.