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The differences between optical laboratory technicians and optical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optical technician has an average salary of $36,908, 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 an optical technician are patients, chrome, and dexterity.
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Optical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $32,926 | $36,908 |
| Hourly rate | $15.83 | $17.74 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,155 | 29,866 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
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.
Optical lab technicians, also known as ophthalmic laboratory technicians, create prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They work together with optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmologists. They received orders from optometrists and opticians to create prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses as per requirement. They also do the cutting, polishing, and grinding lenses as per prescription for products like microscopes, binoculars, or telescopes. They do their work by a computer program and automated tools to make the prescribed lenses before it is sent off to the customer.
Optical laboratory technicians and optical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Optical Technician | |
| Average salary | $32,926 | $36,908 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $42,000 | Between $25,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | AMETEK |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an optical laboratory technician and an optical technician in terms of educational background:
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Optical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between optical laboratory technicians' and optical technicians' demographics:
| Optical Laboratory Technician | Optical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1% | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% |
| 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, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 13% |