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Optician apprentice vs contact lens fitter

The differences between optician apprentices and contact lens fitters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a contact lens fitter has an average salary of $61,893, which is higher than the $37,698 average annual salary of an optician apprentice.

The top three skills for an optician apprentice include POS, customer service and patients. The most important skills for a contact lens fitter are R, EMR, and .

Optician apprentice vs contact lens fitter overview

Optician ApprenticeContact Lens Fitter
Yearly salary$37,698$61,893
Hourly rate$18.12$29.76
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs10,1743,203
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Associate Degree, 42%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

Optician apprentice vs contact lens fitter salary

Optician apprentices and contact lens fitters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Optician ApprenticeContact Lens Fitter
Average salary$37,698$61,893
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $48,000Between $41,000 And $93,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between optician apprentice and contact lens fitter education

There are a few differences between an optician apprentice and a contact lens fitter in terms of educational background:

Optician ApprenticeContact Lens Fitter
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 31%Associate Degree, 42%
Most common majorBusinessBiology
Most common collegeUniversity of Minnesota - Twin CitiesDuke University

Optician apprentice vs contact lens fitter demographics

Here are the differences between optician apprentices' and contact lens fitters' demographics:

Optician ApprenticeContact Lens Fitter
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 24.9% Female, 75.1%Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.1% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between optician apprentice and contact lens fitter duties and responsibilities

Optician apprentice example responsibilities.

  • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
  • File patient medical records; bill insurance; contact insurance companies regarding patient insurance benefits, comply with all HIPAA policies.
  • Assist customers in picking out a frame that goes well with their life style, RX and price needs.
  • Process MTR's and RX reminders and stock merchandise.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality and HIPAA.
  • Create referral business by designing specialty lenses to patients' specifications.
  • Show more

Contact lens fitter example responsibilities.

  • Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
  • Schedule appointments, insurance filing and pretest patients for exams using various instrumentation.
  • Utilize schematics to troubleshoot tank electronics.

Optician apprentice vs contact lens fitter skills

Common optician apprentice skills
  • POS, 37%
  • Customer Service, 26%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
  • HIPAA, 3%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 3%
Common contact lens fitter skills
  • R, 53%
  • EMR, 47%

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