Dispensing optician vs optician manager

The differences between dispensing opticians and optician managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optician manager has an average salary of $46,592, which is higher than the $45,679 average annual salary of a dispensing optician.

The top three skills for a dispensing optician include patients, patient care and customer service. The most important skills for an optician manager are patients, customer service, and appointment scheduling.

Dispensing optician vs optician manager overview

	Dispensing Optician	Optician Manager
Yearly salary	$45,679	$46,592
Hourly rate	$21.96	$22.40
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	4,434	4,803
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 32%	Associate Degree, 36%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	-	-

Dispensing optician vs optician manager salary

Dispensing opticians and optician managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Dispensing Optician	Optician Manager
Average salary	$45,679	$46,592
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $62,000	Between $33,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between dispensing optician and optician manager education

There are a few differences between a dispensing optician and an optician manager in terms of educational background:

	Dispensing Optician	Optician Manager
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 32%	Associate Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Minnesota - Twin Cities	University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Dispensing optician vs optician manager demographics

Here are the differences between dispensing opticians' and optician managers' demographics:

	Dispensing Optician	Optician Manager
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6%	Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 9.2% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between dispensing optician and optician manager duties and responsibilities

Dispensing optician example responsibilities.

Communicate information and provide customer service to patients, families and visitors.
Fax Rx to proper lab.
Scan documents and abide by all HIPAA regulations.
Read and understand the different refractive errors as well as the Rx.
Work with VSP and eye med insurances, and all relate duties.
Order verification, working with insurance companies including VSP, NBN, and DSHS.

Optician manager example responsibilities.

Facilitate and complete daily administrative tasks including medical billing, advocating for patient needs and working directly with patients.
Up to date on HIPPA training.
Maintain accuracy of all prescriptions and maintain confidentiality of all patient information and ensure compliance to all HIPAA policies.
Repair, adjust, and refit broken frames, instruct patients about adapting to, wearing, and caring for eyeglasses.
Work with multiple optometrists to solve patient issues including inaccurate optical measurements, lens adaptations, and overall patient satisfaction.
Work with multiple optometrists to solve patient issues including inaccurate optical measurements, lens adaptations, and overall patient satisfaction.

Dispensing optician vs optician manager skills

Common dispensing optician skills

Patients, 44%
Patient Care, 15%
Customer Service, 8%
Insurance Eligibility, 3%
Appointment Scheduling, 3%
Eye Exams, 2%

Common optician manager skills

Patients, 37%
Customer Service, 12%
Appointment Scheduling, 9%
R, 5%
Payroll, 4%
Patient Care, 3%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Dispensing Optician
Dispensing Optician vs Optician Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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