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The differences between opticians and licensed opticians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a licensed optician has an average salary of $45,625, which is higher than the $38,412 average annual salary of an optician.
The top three skills for an optician include patients, customer service and basic math. The most important skills for a licensed optician are patients, customer satisfaction, and eye care.
| Optician | Licensed Optician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,412 | $45,625 |
| Hourly rate | $18.47 | $21.94 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 14,216 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Associate Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An optician is a medical expert specializing in people's various visual conditions. Opticians analyze eye examinations and the grade of patients' vision from the optometrist or ophthalmologists' prescriptions and design appropriate lenses to improve their sight. One of the most crucial responsibilities of an optician is to ensure that the patient is comfortable with the customized lenses. Otherwise, the optician must perform adjustments as needed. Opticians also recommend styles to the patient and provide instructions on how to properly clean and maintain the eyewear.
A licensed optician is responsible for attending to clients with eye care needs and recommends eyewear selection according to the optometrist's advice. Licensed opticians order the frames and lenses and ensure that the measurement would fit according to the instructions. They also assist the clients in changing or adjusting frames and remind them of the appropriate methods to keep their eyewear safe. A licensed optician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in keeping an organized record of the clients' appointments and processing insurance billings.
Opticians and licensed opticians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optician | Licensed Optician | |
| Average salary | $38,412 | $45,625 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $32,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Horizon Laser Vision | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an optician and a licensed optician in terms of educational background:
| Optician | Licensed Optician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Associate Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between opticians' and licensed opticians' demographics:
| Optician | Licensed Optician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.2% Female, 77.8% | Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 9.2% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |