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The differences between plastic surgeons and optical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a plastic surgeon has an average salary of $172,467, which is higher than the $36,908 average annual salary of an optical technician.
The top three skills for a plastic surgeon include patients, patient care and hand surgery. The most important skills for an optical technician are patients, chrome, and dexterity.
| Plastic Surgeon | Optical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $172,467 | $36,908 |
| Hourly rate | $82.92 | $17.74 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 3,906 | 29,866 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
Plastic surgeons must have skills in hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, organization, communication, and teamwork. This career also requires a bachelor's degree in a premedical major and completion of a four-year M.D. and a surgical residency. Those who choose this career path perform reconstructive plastic surgery in order to restore form and function following illness or trauma and/or perform cosmetic surgery for simple alteration of appearance.
Optical lab technicians, also known as ophthalmic laboratory technicians, create prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They work together with optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmologists. They received orders from optometrists and opticians to create prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses as per requirement. They also do the cutting, polishing, and grinding lenses as per prescription for products like microscopes, binoculars, or telescopes. They do their work by a computer program and automated tools to make the prescribed lenses before it is sent off to the customer.
Plastic surgeons and optical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plastic Surgeon | Optical Technician | |
| Average salary | $172,467 | $36,908 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $339,000 | Between $25,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville Centre, NY | Hayward, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Alaska |
| Best paying company | MaineGeneral Health | AMETEK |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a plastic surgeon and an optical technician in terms of educational background:
| Plastic Surgeon | Optical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Business |
| Most common college | Case Western Reserve University | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between plastic surgeons' and optical technicians' demographics:
| Plastic Surgeon | Optical Technician | |
| Average age | 49 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 13% |