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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

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
0%
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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032. Despite limited employment growth, about 8,300 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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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$36,810

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$21,320
$64,140
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

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

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

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

Knowledge

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

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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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.