DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
51-9083 Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Occupational Description:
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. Excludes ?Opticians, Dispensing ? (29-2081).| Percentiles | |||||||||
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| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 1,010 | 198 | $16.98/hr | $0.75/hr | $11.75/hr | $13.39/hr | $15.71/hr | $18.78/hr | $24.64/hr |
| U S | 29,150 | 1,312 | $16.98/hr | $0.15/hr | $11.29/hr | $13.08/hr | $15.91/hr | $19.54/hr | $24.32/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 10,020 | $22.42/hr | 1.5% |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, &Tenders, Metal & Plastic | 2,720 | $18.44/hr | -0.4% |
| Tool and Die Makers | 1,840 | $27.62/hr | 0.3% |
| Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 500 | $16.32/hr | -4.4% |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders | 420 | $22.55/hr | 0.8% |
| Etchers and Engravers | 300 | $16.51/hr | 1.4% |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 230 | $18.33/hr | 0.5% |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 220 | $15.15/hr | N/A |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | 180 | $44.16/hr | N/A |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 140 | $19.81/hr | -1.2% |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | N/A | $30.42/hr | 1.2% |
Tasks for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Sets up machines to polish, bevel, edge, and grind lenses, flats, blanks, and other precision optical elements.
- Cleans and polishes finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloth, solvent, and equipment.
- Mounts and secures lens blanks or optical lens in holding tool or chuck of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machine.
- Holds lens against rotating wheel to grind or polish lens manually or using machine.
- Positions and adjusts cutting tool to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Selects lens blank, molds, tools, or polishing or grinding wheel, according to production specifications.
- Examines prescription, work order, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lens, and other optical elements.
- Immerses eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Removes lenses from molds and separates lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
- Marks lenses and writes specifications to guide fabricators.
- Lays out lenses and traces lens outline on glass, using template or assembles molds to cast contact lenses.
- Inspects, weighs, and measures lens blanks or lens to verify compliance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Inspects lens blank to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lens.
- Cuts or blocks lenses, optical glass, and blanks, using cutting machinery or precision hand tools.
- Controls equipment to coat lenses to alter reflective quality of lens.
- Mounts, secures, and aligns lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Assembles eyeglass frame, and attaches shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdriver, and drill.
- Inspects and measures mounted or unmounted lenses to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Adjusts lenses and frames to correct alignment and repairs broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering iron.
- Assembles structural, mechanical, and optical parts of instrument, using hand tools and cement.
- Mixes holding compounds, and mounts workpiece or optical element on holding fixture and machine.
- Measures and marks dimensions and reference points, and lays out stock for machining.
- Studies work orders, blueprints, and sketches to formulate plans and sequences for fabricating optical elements, instruments, and systems.
- Computes distance of sighting instruments, using trigonometric formulas.
- Paints parts, using brush and spray gun.
- Records production, inspection, and test data in logs.
- Sets up and operates machines to fabricate fixtures, optics, and tools.
- Cleans elements and parts, using tissue, cleaning solution, and air compressor.
- Tests and sights instruments to verify compliance to specifications, using precision testing instruments.
- Measures and tests optics, using precision measuring and testing instruments.
- Grinds and polishes optics, using hand tools and polishing cloths.
- Coats optical elements according to specifications, using coating equipment.
