Optical Laboratory Technician

Optical Laboratory Technician

Duties and Responsibilities:

They grind and fit eyeglass lenses into frames according to prescriptions written by the ophthalmologist or optometrists. They set lens grinding machine so that lens blank are ground and polished. They then fit the polished lenses into eyeglass frames and, depending upon where they work they fit the frames to the patients. Some of them work in optical laboratories or for optometrists or ophthalmologists. Many of them work in retail stores that have optical departments.

Average Salary: $15,000-$20,000

Educational Requirements:

A high school diploma or GED is required to begin optical laboratory training. The training programs last between six months and one year and are provided by vocational schools and community colleges. Some retail store optical departments provide on-the-job training.