Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
SOC Code: 51-9083 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $47,861 | $63,128 | $78,374 | $93,642 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $48,901 | $62,941 | $76,981 | $91,021 |
| New Haven, CT | $48,984 | $62,504 | $76,045 | $89,565 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $48,963 | $62,400 | $75,858 | $89,294 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $47,798 | $61,443 | $75,067 | $88,712 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $48,651 | $61,984 | $75,296 | $88,629 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,184 | $51,563 | $61,922 | $72,301 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $41,267 | $51,459 | $61,651 | $71,843 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $41,080 | $51,293 | $61,485 | $71,698 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,832 | $49,733 | $59,654 | $69,555 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.2 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | |
| Time Management | 3.1 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 2.9 | |
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Production and Processing | 3.9 |
| Mechanical | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.3 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.1 |
| Administration and Management | 3.0 |
| English Language | 3.0 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.8 |
| Education and Training | 2.7 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 56.4% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 14.6% |
| Some college | 8.8% |
| Associate's degree | 6.5% |
| Less than high school | 4.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 3.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.7% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 1.4% |
Typical Tasks
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word SAP software Electronic medical record EMR software Eyeglass design software
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