Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.
Also called: Edger Technician · Finishing Lab Technician · Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician) · Lens Grinder and Polisher · Line Operator · Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician)
Median pay (national)
$38,420
$31,250–$55,480 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
18,740
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.3%
~2,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $55,480 versus $31,250 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $38,420 leaves roughly 44% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 40 states with released data, Connecticut pays the most for this role (median $60,700, +58% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $23,630 — a 157% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
Tools & technology
- SAP software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training