Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Top skills:Operation and ControlTime ManagementQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringReading ComprehensionMonitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician pay by experience level
Entry level$34,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$37,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$41,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$48,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$59,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,400
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician salary by industry
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
6,310 workers
$45,000
Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing
6,310 workers
$45,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
4,680 workers
$44,500
Health and Personal Care Retailers
4,500 workers
$40,500
Health and Personal Care Retailers
4,500 workers
$40,500
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
2,580 workers
$42,500
Offices of Physicians
1,750 workers
$41,500
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
1,490 workers
$43,500
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1,490 workers
$43,500
Outpatient Care Centers
330 workers
$75,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician pays 21% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
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