Jobs Similar to Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to ophthalmic laboratory technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic, Tire Builders and Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers.
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: $39,460 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $46,170 (+17%) · High school · Same group
- 2Tire Builders
78% similar · $57,390 (+45%) · High school · Same group
- 3Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
78% similar · $46,350 (+17%) · High school
- 4Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $39,530 (0%) · High school
- 5Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $50,270 (+27%) · High school · Same group
- 6Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
77% similar · $38,180 (−3%) · High school
- 7Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
77% similar · $48,570 (+23%) · High school · Same group
- 8Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
76% similar · $46,460 (+18%) · High school · Same group
- 9Etchers and Engravers
76% similar · $43,310 (+10%) · High school · Same group
- 10Print Binding and Finishing Workers
76% similar · $42,290 (+7%) · High school
- 11Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
76% similar · $46,570 (+18%) · High school · Same group
- 12Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
76% similar · $50,060 (+27%) · High school
- 13Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
76% similar · $43,220 (+10%) · High school · Same group
- 14Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
76% similar · $54,430 (+38%) · High school
- 15Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
75% similar · $48,540 (+23%) · High school · Same group
- 16Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $47,180 (+20%) · High school
- 17Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $46,550 (+18%) · High school
- 18Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
75% similar · $52,800 (+34%) · High school
- 19Machine Feeders and Offbearers
75% similar · $41,220 (+4%) · High school
- 20Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
75% similar · $48,040 (+22%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than ophthalmic laboratory technicians.
- Tire Builders78% similar · $57,390 (+45%)
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders76% similar · $54,430 (+38%)
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic75% similar · $52,800 (+34%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders77% similar · $50,270 (+27%)
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners76% similar · $50,060 (+27%)
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers77% similar · $48,570 (+23%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for ophthalmic laboratory technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where ophthalmic laboratory technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like ophthalmic laboratory technicians
What jobs are most similar to ophthalmic laboratory technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic (78% similar), Tire Builders (78% similar), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (78% similar), Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (78% similar) and Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (77% similar).
Which jobs like ophthalmic laboratory technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Tire Builders ($57,390, +45%; usually a high school diploma), Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders ($54,430, +38%; usually a high school diploma) and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ($52,800, +34%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with ophthalmic laboratory technicians ($39,460). Without more preparation than ophthalmic laboratory technicians usually need: Tire Builders, Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.