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The differences between ophthalmic technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an ophthalmic technician and a technician. Additionally, an ophthalmic technician has an average salary of $44,042, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for an ophthalmic technician include patients, patient care and ophthalmology. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Ophthalmic Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $44,042 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $21.17 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 19,063 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An ophthalmic technician specializes in providing eye care services to patients under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Among their responsibilities include conducting interviews, taking notes of the patients' symptoms, conducting eye examinations and tests, administering medication, and performing support tasks for ophthalmologists during procedures. They may also set-up and operate equipment, perform maintenance checks, and maintain the cleanliness of work areas. Moreover, an ophthalmic technician may perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, and assisting patients in filling out forms.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Ophthalmic technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Ophthalmic Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $44,042 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Eye Consultants of Atlanta | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an ophthalmic technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Ophthalmic Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between ophthalmic technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Ophthalmic Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 2% |