All careers › Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Ophthalmic lab technician: pay, job outlook and how to get started
- $33,530lowest 10% earn less
- $36,47025th percentile
- $39,460median
- $47,01075th percentile
- $57,380top 10% earn more
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians, who cut, polish and fit lenses, had a median pay of $39,460 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow a little slower than the average for all occupations[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.2%[2]
- Openings per year
- 2,200[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do ophthalmic lab technicians make?
The median pay for ophthalmic laboratory technicians was $39,460 a year, or $18.97 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $43,190 a year, or $20.76 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median was $50,980 a year[5]. So the median for this job sits below the national figure.
BLS publishes pay as percentile boundaries, not a starting salary[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,530 a year[4]. The table shows the boundaries.
| Point in the pay range | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[4][10] | $33,530 | $16.12 |
| 25th percentile[4][10] | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Median[1] | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 75th percentile[4][10] | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 90th percentile[4][10] | $57,380 | $27.59 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed and the value of benefits such as health insurance[11].
Pay by state and city
Connecticut had the highest state median at $62,410, then New Hampshire at $59,460 and Washington at $49,230[12]. Those first two states are small markets, with 170 and 180 jobs[12].
Texas had the most jobs at 3,380[13]. California followed with 1,630, then New York with 1,250[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Denver-Aurora-Centennial had the highest median at $52,510[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came next at $51,090, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $50,770[14]. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area had the most jobs, 1,940, with a median of $38,280[15].
Show median pay in 40 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut[12] | $62,410 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 | 180 |
| Washington | $49,230 | 260 |
| Colorado | $48,540 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 | n/a |
| California | $47,410 | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47,100 | 360 |
| Ohio | $46,320 | 560 |
| Oregon | $45,780 | 250 |
| Michigan | $45,490 | 330 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | 960 |
| Kansas | $44,920 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $44,140 | 210 |
| Maine | $43,520 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43,100 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $42,920 | 200 |
| New York | $42,450 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40,280 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $38,990 | 240 |
| Missouri | $38,740 | 360 |
| Arizona | $38,620 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $38,590 | 130 |
| Florida | $38,020 | 1,230 |
| Texas | $37,920 | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,680 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37,370 | 130 |
| Indiana | $37,360 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37,160 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37,140 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $37,060 | 170 |
| Alabama | $37,010 | 190 |
| Illinois | $36,840 | 830 |
| Kentucky | $36,650 | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $35,620 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35,230 | 220 |
| Virginia | $34,170 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34,140 | 130 |
| Iowa | $33,910 | 100 |
How to become an ophthalmic lab technician
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual entry education. It lists no work experience in a related job and moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
- First: finish high school or get an equivalent. In an O*NET survey of 32 workers, 56% said a high school diploma or equivalent is the level required[16].
- Next: learn on the job. Workers in the wider BLS group may begin as helpers and pick up harder skills as they gain experience[17].
- Then, if you want it: look at a postsecondary program. Employers may prefer a certificate or associate's degree, and some community colleges and technical schools teach lens surfacing and finishing[18]. In the same O*NET survey, 9% named a post-secondary certificate and 7% an associate's degree[16].
Certification is optional. BLS says it may make candidates more attractive and open doors for advancement[19]. These training details come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of occupations, not only this one[20]. Our facts do not say how long a program takes or what it costs.
BLS names several useful qualities. They include attention to detail, good hand skills for precision tools, and the ability to work with others on a team[21][22][23].
What ophthalmic lab technicians do
Workers shape and finish lenses for eyeglasses and contact lenses, then put them in frames[24]. Sample job titles reported by workers include optical lab technician, lens grinder and polisher, and edger technician[25]. Tasks include:
- Reading prescriptions and work orders to learn what a lens needs[26].
- Choosing lens blanks, tools and grinding or polishing wheels[26].
- Setting up machines that grind, bevel, edge or polish lenses[26].
- Holding lens blanks in the tools of cutting, grinding, polishing or coating machines[26].
- Checking lenses for flaws and measuring finished ones with precision instruments[26].
- Cleaning finished lenses and eyeglasses[26].
- Fitting and aligning lenses in frames with hand tools, and adjusting them when needed[26].
Where they work
BLS says the largest employer group for the wider occupation group is medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, at 61% of jobs in 2025[27]. Only 1% of ophthalmic laboratory technicians were self-employed in 2025[28].
Workers may handle materials that carry health and safety risks, so they usually wear protective gear such as goggles, gloves or masks. They may stand or bend a lot[29]. In the wider group, most people work full time, and schedules can vary[30].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of ophthalmic laboratory technicians to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,600 jobs to 19,000[2]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. That puts this job a little below the all-occupations rate.
About 2,200 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings count jobs that open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.3% move to a different occupation[31].
Is it a good fit?
The entry bar is low on paper. A high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training are the usual route[7]. Pay was below the all-occupations median, at $39,460 against $50,980[1][5]. Growth is modest, but openings from workers leaving the job or the labor force add up to about 2,200 a year[2][6][31]. The work is precise and hands-on, with machines, small tools and careful checks[26][22]. Someone who likes that kind of detail may find it a fair match, and someone who wants pay above the national median may want to compare the 75th and 90th percentiles[4].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an ophthalmic lab technician make an hour?
- The median was $18.97 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle range runs from $17.53 at the 25th percentile to $22.60 at the 75th[10].
- What education do you need to be a lab technician in an optical lab?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. Some employers may prefer a postsecondary certificate or associate's degree[18].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in the US was $39,460 per year and $18.97 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians is projected to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 18,600 to 19,000 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: 10th percentile $33,530, 25th percentile $36,470, 75th percentile $47,010, 90th percentile $57,380. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 2,200 openings for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians was $43,190 per year and $20.76 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: 10th percentile $16.12, 25th percentile $17.53, 75th percentile $22.60, 90th percentile $27.59. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians jobs: Texas 3,380; California 1,630; New York 1,250; Florida 1,230; Minnesota 1,110. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $52,510; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $51,090; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,770; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $50,120; Jacksonville, FL $48,410; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $47,470; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $47,100; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $46,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,940 (median $38,280); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 870 (median $50,120); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 830 (median $45,870); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 570 (median $41,780); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 570 (median $38,190); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 520 (median $36,870). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-9083.00 survey of workers (32 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 56%, Some College Courses 15%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Dental and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians and Medical Appliance Technicians" covers Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9083.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Edger Technician, Finishing Lab Technician, Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician), Lens Grinder and Polisher, Line Operator, Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician), Optical Technician, Polisher. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians in 2025: Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing 61%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: 5.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.