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The differences between licensed opticians and optician apprentices can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a licensed optician has an average salary of $45,625, which is higher than the $37,698 average annual salary of an optician apprentice.
The top three skills for a licensed optician include patients, customer satisfaction and eye care. The most important skills for an optician apprentice are POS, customer service, and patients.
| Licensed Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Yearly salary | $45,625 | $37,698 |
| Hourly rate | $21.94 | $18.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 14,216 | 10,174 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A licensed optician is responsible for attending to clients with eye care needs and recommends eyewear selection according to the optometrist's advice. Licensed opticians order the frames and lenses and ensure that the measurement would fit according to the instructions. They also assist the clients in changing or adjusting frames and remind them of the appropriate methods to keep their eyewear safe. A licensed optician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in keeping an organized record of the clients' appointments and processing insurance billings.
An optician apprentice is an assistant to a certified optician whose responsibilities include designing, measuring, and fitting lenses and frames for clients. Optician apprentices assist clients with picking out frames of their choice and within their budgets, measuring customer size for fitting, and ensuring a good face- eyeglass match. You will also assist and educate patients on how to wear and care for contact lenses and prepare work orders for the frame and lens mounting in the lab.
Licensed opticians and optician apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Average salary | $45,625 | $37,698 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $63,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a licensed optician and an optician apprentice in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between licensed opticians' and optician apprentices' demographics:
| Licensed Optician | Optician Apprentice | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8% | Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 19.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |