Optical assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Optical assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates optical assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our optical assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about optical assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 15,466 optical assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 87.0% of all optical assistants are women, while 13.0% are men.
- The average optical assistant age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of optical assistants is White (62.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.8%), Asian (9.1%) and Black or African American (5.4%).
- In 2022, women earned 89% of what men earned.
- 13% of all optical assistants are LGBT.
- Optical assistants are 75% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Optical assistant demographics by:
Optical assistant gender statistics
87.0% of optical assistants are women and 13.0% of optical assistants are men.
- Female, 87.0%
- Male, 13.0%
Optical assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 87.0% |
| Male | 13.0% |
Optical assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 89¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$45,726
Female income
$40,523
Optical assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in optical assistant positions over time. Currently, 87.0% of optical assistants are female.
Optical assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.89% | 89.11% |
| 2011 | 11.13% | 88.87% |
| 2012 | 13.07% | 86.93% |
| 2013 | 11.57% | 88.43% |
| 2014 | 8.39% | 91.61% |
| 2015 | 11.48% | 88.52% |
| 2016 | 8.05% | 91.95% |
| 2017 | 10.09% | 89.91% |
| 2018 | 11.27% | 88.73% |
| 2019 | 10.48% | 89.52% |
| 2020 | 7.23% | 92.77% |
| 2021 | 12.99% | 87.01% |
Optical assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared optical assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, guitar technician and armorer technician have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Radiographer, Mammographer | 2% | 98% |
| Mammographer | 3% | 97% |
| Lead Mammographer | 3% | 97% |
| Optical Assistant | 13% | 87% |
| Driver/Technician | 93% | 7% |
| Armorer Technician | 95% | 5% |
| Guitar Technician | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Optical assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among optical assistants is White, which makes up 62.5% of all optical assistants. Comparatively, 18.8% of optical assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 9.1% of optical assistants are Asian.
- White, 62.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.8%
- Asian, 9.1%
- Black or African American, 5.4%
- Unknown, 3.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Optical assistant race
| Optical assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 62.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.8% |
| Asian | 9.1% |
| Black or African American | 5.4% |
| Unknown | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Optical assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how optical assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Optical assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.19% | 6.80% | 5.45% | 12.81% |
| 2011 | 72.38% | 6.91% | 4.34% | 14.61% |
| 2012 | 74.96% | 4.80% | 4.46% | 14.11% |
| 2013 | 68.65% | 7.41% | 5.59% | 15.70% |
| 2014 | 72.03% | 8.12% | 5.33% | 12.09% |
| 2015 | 72.10% | 5.10% | 5.88% | 14.52% |
| 2016 | 69.20% | 7.94% | 6.54% | 14.69% |
| 2017 | 67.31% | 7.64% | 6.37% | 16.08% |
| 2018 | 71.40% | 5.26% | 5.26% | 14.51% |
| 2019 | 68.57% | 6.55% | 6.49% | 15.87% |
| 2020 | 65.77% | 6.08% | 8.20% | 15.69% |
| 2021 | 62.48% | 5.43% | 9.11% | 18.80% |
Optical assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian optical assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown optical assistants have the lowest average salary at $43,017.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $43,017 |
| White | $43,630 |
| Black or African American | $45,587 |
| Asian | $50,657 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $46,121 |
Average optical assistant age
See how the average age of optical assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Optical assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 48 | 47 |
| Black or African American | 34 | |
| Asian | 36.5 | 41 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37 | 31.5 |
Optical assistant age breakdown
The average age of optical assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the optical assistant population.
Optical assistant age breakdown
| Optical Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Optical assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for optical assistants is bachelor's degree, with 32% of optical assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 26% and associate degree degree at 23%.
- Bachelor's, 32%
- Associate, 26%
- High School Diploma, 23%
- Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 10%
Optical assistants by degree level
| Optical assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 32% |
| Associate | 26% |
| High School Diploma | 23% |
| Diploma | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 10% |
Optical assistant jobs you might like
Optical assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, optical assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $47,903 annually. With a Associate degree, optical assistants earn a median annual income of $44,665 compared to $41,668 for optical assistants with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,668 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,903 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $44,665 |
Optical assistant employment statistics
Most optical assistants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where optical assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where optical assistants work.
Optical assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 16% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 12% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 30% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Optical assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the optical assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most optical assistants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Optical assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 14% |
| Private | 75% |
| Government | 8% |
Optical assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for optical assistants are health care, retail and manufacturing.
Optical assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 24% |
| Retail | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 12% |
| Government | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Education | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
Optical assistant turnover and employment statistics
Optical assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for optical assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Optical assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Optical assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.51% |
| 2011 | 4.14% |
| 2012 | 4.99% |
| 2013 | 2.46% |
| 2014 | 2.76% |
| 2015 | 2.38% |
| 2016 | 2.14% |
| 2017 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | 1.82% |
| 2019 | 1.63% |
| 2020 | 2.40% |
| 2021 | 3.33% |
Average optical assistant tenure
The average optical assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,620 optical assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Optical assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 36% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Optical assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of optical assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Technician | 5.02% | 29,832 |
| Dental Hygienist | 6.89% | 24,234 |
| Process Laboratory Specialist | 8.24% | 91,742 |
| Health Information Coder | 9.29% | 112,238 |
| Optical Assistant | 12.53% | - |
| Operating Room Technician | 12.80% | 96,065 |
| Supervisor Nuclear Medicine | 21.93% | 12,974 |
Similar optical assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Technician | 5.02% | 29,832 |
| Dental Hygienist | 6.89% | 24,234 |
| Process Laboratory Specialist | 8.24% | 91,742 |
| Health Information Coder | 9.29% | 112,238 |
| Operating Room Technician | 12.80% | 96,065 |
| Supervisor Nuclear Medicine | 21.93% | 12,974 |
Foreign languages spoken by optical assistants
The most common foreign language among optical assistants is Spanish at 70.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Russian at 7.8% and French is the third-most popular at 5.9%.
- Spanish, 70.6%
- Russian, 7.8%
- French, 5.9%
- Cantonese, 3.9%
- Italian, 3.9%
- Other, 7.9%
Optical assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 70.6% |
| Russian | 7.8% |
| French | 5.9% |
| Cantonese | 3.9% |
| Italian | 3.9% |
| Other | 7.9% |
