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The differences between lens coating technicians and machines technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a lens coating technician, becoming a machines technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a machines technician has an average salary of $39,754, which is higher than the $33,238 average annual salary of a lens coating technician.
The top three skills for a lens coating technician include computer system, calipers and production equipment. The most important skills for a machines technician are CNC, hand tools, and calipers.
| Lens Coating Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $33,238 | $39,754 |
| Hourly rate | $15.98 | $19.11 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 34,124 | 106,175 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A Lens Coating Technician is responsible for ensuring that every glasses, contact lenses and other eye care polish and clean before giving it to the customer. They assemble the frames and put on the correct and necessary lens and the grinders, lens mounters, and centered-edger. Often, their task is to read eye prescription, determine the right lenses by using lens blank, molds, tools according to its specification. They also examine if there are flaws and aligns the thickness of lenses.
A machine technician can often be seen in a manufacturing company, factories, processing centers, and machine shops. They typically work as the apprentice of machine engineers that are responsible for ensuring that all machinery and machine tools are working properly. A technician operates, installs, maintains, inspects, and repairs equipment depending on what industry they are working in, whether it may be an industrial or automotive setup. They must be keen on detail and keep the machines or equipment to the highest quality standard at all times.
Lens coating technicians and machines technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lens Coating Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Average salary | $33,238 | $39,754 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $42,000 | Between $30,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | PPG | ABB |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a lens coating technician and a machines technician in terms of educational background:
| Lens Coating Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lens coating technicians' and machines technicians' demographics:
| Lens Coating Technician | Machines Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.8% Female, 18.2% | Male, 85.1% Female, 14.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 3.2% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 2% |