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Licensed optician vs dispensing optician

The differences between licensed opticians and dispensing opticians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dispensing optician has an average salary of $45,679, which is higher than the $45,625 average annual salary of a licensed optician.

The top three skills for a licensed optician include patients, customer satisfaction and eye care. The most important skills for a dispensing optician are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Licensed optician vs dispensing optician overview

Licensed OpticianDispensing Optician
Yearly salary$45,625$45,679
Hourly rate$21.94$21.96
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs14,2164,434
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 32%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

Licensed optician vs dispensing optician salary

Licensed opticians and dispensing opticians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Licensed OpticianDispensing Optician
Average salary$45,625$45,679
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $63,000Between $33,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between licensed optician and dispensing optician education

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

Licensed OpticianDispensing Optician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Minnesota - Twin CitiesUniversity of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Licensed optician vs dispensing optician demographics

Here are the differences between licensed opticians' and dispensing opticians' demographics:

Licensed OpticianDispensing Optician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 36.2% Female, 63.8%Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 9.2% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between licensed optician and dispensing optician duties and responsibilities

Licensed optician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
  • Provide training for ABO certification.
  • Check in finish product to verify rx before dispensing.
  • Read the Rx, take proper measurement of frame and patient.
  • Collect payment for eyewear and Dr fees and balance books daily.
  • Assist the accounting department in generating staff payroll on a weekly basis.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Licensed optician vs dispensing optician skills

Common licensed optician skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 17%
  • Eye Care, 9%
  • HIPAA, 5%
  • RX, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%
Common dispensing optician skills
  • Patients, 44%
  • Patient Care, 15%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Insurance Eligibility, 3%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 3%
  • Eye Exams, 2%

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