Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobsSkillsEducationDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireBest CompaniesJob Outlook

Compare

Part Time jobsEntry Level jobsFull Time jobs

Optical laboratory technician vs lead laboratory technician

The differences between optical laboratory technicians and lead 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 lead laboratory technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a lead laboratory technician has an average salary of $54,230, 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 lead laboratory technician are patients, lab equipment, and customer service.

Optical laboratory technician vs lead laboratory technician overview

Optical Laboratory TechnicianLead Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary$32,926$54,230
Hourly rate$15.83$26.07
Growth rate2%3%
Number of jobs40,15577,096
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience212

What does an optical laboratory technician do?

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.

What does a lead laboratory technician do?

A Lead Laboratory Technician coordinates the operations of a laboratory. They supervise the preparation of specimens for tests, collection of blood, examination of blood samples, and other duties performed by the technician team.

Optical laboratory technician vs lead laboratory technician salary

Optical laboratory technicians and lead laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Optical Laboratory TechnicianLead Laboratory Technician
Average salary$32,926$54,230
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $42,000Between $33,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City-South San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between optical laboratory technician and lead laboratory technician education

There are a few differences between an optical laboratory technician and a lead laboratory technician in terms of educational background:

Optical Laboratory TechnicianLead Laboratory Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessBiology
Most common college-New York University

Optical laboratory technician vs lead laboratory technician demographics

Here are the differences between optical laboratory technicians' and lead laboratory technicians' demographics:

Optical Laboratory TechnicianLead Laboratory Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 54.9% Female, 45.1%Male, 58.2% Female, 41.8%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 12.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage5%8%

Differences between optical laboratory technician and lead laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Optical laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage filing, scanning & shredding important medical documents in office due to HIPAA privacy laws.
  • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
  • Perform in house testing, controls, correlations, proficiency testing, NCS, PVDT, and EKG.
  • Transmit orders via POS to the lab.
  • Perform EKGS by placement of electrodes and gathering the EKG readings.
  • Verify orders, answer phones, and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations.
    • Show more

Lead laboratory technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient, and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality.
  • Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments.
  • Assist with FDA and OSHA audits, coordinate the center for all audits and inspections.
  • Accession patient information, doctor information, and testing information accurately and promptly into the NovoPath LIS system.
  • Develop and execute IQ/OQ/PQ at manufacturing site.
  • Maintain, troubleshoot, verify and calibrate laboratory equipment.
    • Show more

Optical laboratory technician vs lead laboratory technician skills

Common optical laboratory technician skills
  • Equipment Maintenance, 59%
  • Prescription Glasses, 9%
  • Dexterity, 5%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Patients, 4%
  • Inventory Control, 3%
Common lead laboratory technician skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Lab Equipment, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Ongoing Maintenance, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Chemistry, 4%

Optical Laboratory Technician vs. similar jobs

Optical Laboratory Technician related careers

Optical Laboratory Technician related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs