Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
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.
Also called: Artificial Glass Eye Maker, Artificial Plastic Eye Maker, Bench Hand, Benchroom Shop Optician, Bevel Polisher, Beveler
Median pay
$39,460
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$33,530 – $57,380
People employed
18,660
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 2.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 5.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 6.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 7.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (40 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What ophthalmic laboratory technicians do
- 01Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- 02Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- 03Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- 04Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- 05Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- 06Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from ophthalmic laboratory technicians
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners86% · +27%
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic85% · +18%
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82% · +20%
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82% · +34%
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters82% · +59%
Change into ophthalmic laboratory technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Motion Picture Projectionists76% · $38,270
- Office Machine Operators, Except Computer74% · $40,960
- Endoscopy Technicians72% · $48,430
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists71% · $78,350
Majors that lead here
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.