Optical Laboratory Technician

Duties and Responsibilities:

Optical laboratory technicians grind and fit eyeglass lenses into frames according to prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.  Technicians set lens grinding machine so that lens blanks are ground and polished. They then fit the polished lenses into eyeglass frames and, depending upon where they work, fit the frames to the patients.

Salary:

$15,000 - $20,000

Education:

A high school diploma or GED certificate is needed to begin optical laboratory training. Training programs last between 6 months and 1 year and are provided by vocational schools and community colleges. Some retail store optical departments provide on-the-job training.