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The differences between opticians and optometrists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optometrist has an average salary of $187,654, 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 optometrist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.
| Optician | Optometrist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,412 | $187,654 |
| Hourly rate | $18.47 | $90.22 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,717 | 20,993 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| 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 optometrist is primarily responsible for the vision and eye care of clients, treating different conditions such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Their duties mostly revolve around performing eye and vision tests, diagnosing issues, providing consultations, prescribing corrective glasses and lenses, and educating clients on proper eye care methods. Furthermore, an optometrist must maintain records of all cases and treatment plans, and supervise support staff should they choose to work at a private clinic or a similar setting.
Opticians and optometrists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optician | Optometrist | |
| Average salary | $38,412 | $187,654 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $50,000 | Between $94,000 And $373,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Greensboro, NC |
| Highest paying state | New York | North Carolina |
| Best paying company | Horizon Laser Vision | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an optician and an optometrist in terms of educational background:
| Optician | Optometrist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Optometry |
| Most common college | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between opticians' and optometrists' demographics:
| Optician | Optometrist | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.2% Female, 77.8% | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% |
| 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, 1.4% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.2% Asian, 17.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 18% |