How to hire an optical assistant

How to hire an optical assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step optical assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an optical assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new optical assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your optical assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an optical assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An optical assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, optical assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of optical assistants.

   Type of Optical Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Optical Assistant	Dispensing opticians help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists. They also help customers decide which eyeglass frames or contact lenses to buy.	$12-27
   Medical Records Clerk	Medical records clerks are employees in hospitals or clinics who manage office records. They are in charge of creating, updating, and filing patient-related medical records and other related documents... Show more	$12-19
   Phlebotomy Technician	A phlebotomy technician is responsible for conducting the medical procedure of drawing blood samples using extraction tools and other equipment. Phlebotomy technicians label the samples for laboratory examinations, donation testing, and other related purposes... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • HIPAA
   • Computer System
   • Data Entry
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Telephone Inquiries
   • Appointment Scheduling
   • Customer Service
   • Eye Care
   • Front Desk
   • Eye Exams
   • Patient Appointments
   • Insurance Benefits
   • Patient Charts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
   • Book appointments when the Dr's office is closed.
   • Take measurements before turning frames and Rx over to the lab to have glasses make.
   • Acquire, comply with and obtain a thorough knowledge and understanding of HIPPA and OSHA practices.
   • Verify and confirm Rx's from the lab, work with computers and fax machines daily.
   • Order new frames from leading suppliers, reconcile statements from vendors and process VSP and eyem claims.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your optical assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An optical assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, optical assistants' average salary in oklahoma is 44% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level optical assistants earn 54% less than senior-level optical assistants.
   • Certifications. An optical assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an optical assistant's salary.

   Average optical assistant salary

   $39,251yearly

   $18.87 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level optical assistant salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

4. Writing an optical assistant job description

   An optical assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an optical assistant job description:

   Optical assistant job description example

   San Diego,California,United States
   
   Hardware
   
   + Multi-disciplinary understanding of optics, general Physics principles and basic EE concepts.
   
   + Proven experience in modelling complex cross-disciplinary systems
   
   + Ability to effectively combine modelling and experimentation to drive key system design decisions
   
   + Proficiency with numerical simulation software: Matlab, Python, Zemax, LightTools, etc.
   
   + Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and proven collaboration and leadership skills
   
   + Industry experience in miniaturized optical systems is preferred, but not a hard requirement
   
   **Description**
   
   - Investigate feasibility of new sensors and sensing approaches - Use optical modelling tools and experiments to design miniaturized optical components and systems. - Develop and accurately predict performance of complex miniaturized optical systems; follow through between simulations and measurements - Feature definition, block-level simulation, and spec authorship of sensor modules - Building, maintaining, and documenting a thorough end-to-end understanding of optical sensing system - Analyze engineering and production data sets in order to reconcile system model - Work alongside firmware team to develop advanced algorithms to ensure module performance - Work closely with mechanical and process engineering teams in optimizing trade-offs between manufacturability, reliability and performance - Author regular technical communication for executive and multi-functional briefings
   
   **Education & Experience**
   
   M.S/Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Optics or Physics. Ph.D. preferred.
   
   **Additional Requirements**
   
   **Apple Footer**
   
   Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. United States Department of Labor. Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple is required to comply with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate issued by the New York City Department of Health. We will verify the vaccination status of all New York City team members who are working at an Apple Store, office, or partner store in New York City. New York City Department of Health Learn more (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. If you're applying for a position in San Francisco, review the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance guidelines (opens in a new window) applicable in your area.
   
   Apple participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program (Opens in a new window) .
   
   Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace. Reasonable Accommodation and Drug Free Workplace policy Learn more (Opens in a new window) .

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find optical assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your optical assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit optical assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit optical assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new optical assistant

   Once you've found the optical assistant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new optical assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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