Optician apprentice vs optical dispenser

The differences between optician apprentices and optical dispensers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optician apprentice has an average salary of $37,698, which is higher than the $37,333 average annual salary of an optical dispenser.

The top three skills for an optician apprentice include POS, customer service and patients. The most important skills for an optical dispenser are american board, ABO, and insurance coverage.

Optician apprentice vs optical dispenser overview

	Optician Apprentice	Optical Dispenser
Yearly salary	$37,698	$37,333
Hourly rate	$18.12	$17.95
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	10,174	6,198
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 31%	Associate Degree, 34%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	-	-

Optician apprentice vs optical dispenser salary

Optician apprentices and optical dispensers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Optician Apprentice	Optical Dispenser
Average salary	$37,698	$37,333
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $48,000	Between $11,000 And $116,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between optician apprentice and optical dispenser education

There are a few differences between an optician apprentice and an optical dispenser in terms of educational background:

	Optician Apprentice	Optical Dispenser
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 31%	Associate Degree, 34%
Most common major	Business	Physics
Most common college	University of Minnesota - Twin Cities	Duke University

Optician apprentice vs optical dispenser demographics

Here are the differences between optician apprentices' and optical dispensers' demographics:

	Optician Apprentice	Optical Dispenser
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%	Male, 42.7% Female, 57.3%
Race ratio	Black 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, 5.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 8.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	13%	13%

Differences between optician apprentice and optical dispenser 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.

Optical dispenser example responsibilities.

Maintain coating quality using adhesion testing and spectrophotometers, and manage coating hues and reflectance adjustments.
Follow all IRB, FDA and HIIPA directions relate to clinical research projects.
Order glasses verify insurance order contacts make appointment follow up on RX order
Assist patients with eye wear selection, repairs and troubleshooting with Rx difficulties.
Work with multiple optometrists to solve patient issues including inaccurate optical measurements, lens adaptations, and overall patient satisfaction.
File insurance for orders including medicare and medicaid.

Optician apprentice vs optical dispenser skills

Common optician apprentice skills

POS, 37%
Customer Service, 26%
Patients, 13%
Product Knowledge, 4%
HIPAA, 3%
Appointment Scheduling, 3%

Common optical dispenser skills

American Board, 47%
ABO, 24%
Insurance Coverage, 18%
Customer Service, 4%
Scheduling Appointments, 2%
Optical Lab, 2%

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Optician Apprentice
Optician Apprentice vs Optical Dispenser

Updated January 8, 2025

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