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The differences between optometric technicians and technicians 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 a technician. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, 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 a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Optometric Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $30,928 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $14.87 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 33,412 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| 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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Optometric technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optometric Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $30,928 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an optometric technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Optometric Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Biology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between optometric technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Optometric Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 2% |