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The differences between optical laboratory technicians and laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an optical laboratory technician, becoming a laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a laboratory technician has an average salary of $40,038, which is higher than the $32,926 average annual salary of an optical laboratory technician.
The top three skills for an optical laboratory technician include equipment maintenance, prescription glasses and dexterity. The most important skills for a laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,926 | $40,038 |
| Hourly rate | $15.83 | $19.25 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,155 | 84,357 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
An optical laboratory technician is responsible for filling patients' eyeglass lenses and contact lenses prescriptions as forwarded by an optician. Optical laboratory technicians work with opticians, optometrists, or in an optical equipment laboratory and are also referred to as ophthalmic laboratory technicians. You require technical expertise to use lens grinders and lensometers for the right curvature and prescription for patients. Optical laboratory technicians ensure that lenses are crafted correctly and logging records about each order filled.
Laboratory technicians are medical professionals who work in the laboratory. They are responsible for the equipment in the laboratory, making sure tools are properly sanitized and sterilized after every use. They also ensure that laboratory equipment works well. Laboratory technicians may also be responsible for collecting and testing samples from patients. They prepare solutions and other chemicals that may be needed for testing. They also provide an analysis of the samples that they tested. Laboratory technicians ensure that all items in the laboratory are properly labeled and organized.
Optical laboratory technicians and laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,926 | $40,038 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $42,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Tenaska |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an optical laboratory technician and a laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | - | New York University |
Here are the differences between optical laboratory technicians' and laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1% | Male, 53.3% Female, 46.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 9.3% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 8% |