Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians build operation and control, time management and quality control analysis skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (86%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 86% | $50,060 | +27% | None |
| 2 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 85% | $46,550 | +18% | None |
| 3 | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 82% | $47,180 | +20% | None |
| 4 | Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 82% | $52,800 | +34% | None |
| 5 | Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters | 82% | $62,620 | +59% | None |
| 6 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 82% | $46,350 | +17% | None |
| 7 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 79% | $47,920 | +21% | None |
| 8 | Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 79% | $50,620 | +28% | None |
| 9 | Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 78% | $39,530 | 0% | None |
| 10 | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | 77% | $38,180 | −3% | None |
Compared with Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians, median $39,460. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as ophthalmic laboratory technicians (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
86% skill match · $50,060 · +27% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Troubleshooting · Operation and Control
85% skill match · $46,550 · +18% pay
Operations Monitoring · Operation and Control · Troubleshooting
82% skill match · $47,180 · +20% pay
Installation · Operations Monitoring · Equipment Maintenance
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (86% skill match, median $50,060), Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (85% skill match, median $46,550) and Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (82% skill match, median $47,180), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 21 pay more than ophthalmic laboratory technicians at the median. The biggest increases: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (+145%, $96,710), Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters (+59%, $62,620) and Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders (+38%, $54,430).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.