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The differences between opticians and ophthalmic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an ophthalmic technician has an average salary of $44,042, 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 an ophthalmic technician are patients, patient care, and ophthalmology.
| Optician | Ophthalmic Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,412 | $44,042 |
| Hourly rate | $18.47 | $21.17 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 19,063 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
An ophthalmic technician specializes in providing eye care services to patients under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Among their responsibilities include conducting interviews, taking notes of the patients' symptoms, conducting eye examinations and tests, administering medication, and performing support tasks for ophthalmologists during procedures. They may also set-up and operate equipment, perform maintenance checks, and maintain the cleanliness of work areas. Moreover, an ophthalmic technician may perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, and assisting patients in filling out forms.
Opticians and ophthalmic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optician | Ophthalmic Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,412 | $44,042 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $30,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | New York | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Horizon Laser Vision | Eye Consultants of Atlanta |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an optician and an ophthalmic technician in terms of educational background:
| Optician | Ophthalmic Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | - |
Here are the differences between opticians' and ophthalmic technicians' demographics:
| Optician | Ophthalmic Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.2% Female, 77.8% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| 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, 14.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 6% |