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The differences between optometric technicians and ophthalmic assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an optometric technician and an ophthalmic assistant. Additionally, an ophthalmic assistant has an average salary of $43,217, which is higher than the $30,928 average annual salary of an optometric technician.
The top three skills for an optometric technician include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for an ophthalmic assistant are patients, patient care, and ophthalmology.
| Optometric Technician | Ophthalmic Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $30,928 | $43,217 |
| Hourly rate | $14.87 | $20.78 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 33,412 | 21,559 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An optometric technician is responsible for performing administrative and clerical tasks to assist patients with their vision problems and needs. Optometric technicians work in the laboratory, constructing glasses and lenses according to the ophthalmologist's advice. They clean and inspect vision equipment and ensure that the facility is well-maintained. An optometric technician must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, manage information on the database, and release customers' orders.
An ophthalmic assistant works with an ophthalmologist and assists with recording patient information, updating patient records, and obtaining medical records. You may also be required to book and follow up on patient appointments. Ophthalmic assistants counsel patients about treatment and care and may be required to take ocular measurements of patients or administer medication. Ophthalmic assistants do a lot of customer service work giving patients information regarding eye care and explaining to patients procedures and medications.
Optometric technicians and ophthalmic assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optometric Technician | Ophthalmic Assistant | |
| Average salary | $30,928 | $43,217 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $30,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Eye Consultants of Atlanta |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an optometric technician and an ophthalmic assistant in terms of educational background:
| Optometric Technician | Ophthalmic Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between optometric technicians' and ophthalmic assistants' demographics:
| Optometric Technician | Ophthalmic Assistant | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% | Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 6% | 6% |