# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmic-laboratory-technicians
- SOC code: 51-9083.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $39,460 (10th percentile $33,530, 90th percentile $57,380)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.2%
- Openings a year: 2,200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 90 |
| Investigative (I) | 31 |
| Artistic (A) | 12 |
| Social (S) | 15 |
| Enterprising (E) | 6 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 68/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 60/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 60/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 59/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 57/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 57/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 56/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 55/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 55/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 54/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking

## Knowledge

Production and Processing, Mechanical, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Administrative

## Also called

Artificial Glass Eye Maker, Artificial Plastic Eye Maker, Bench Hand, Benchroom Shop Optician, Bevel Polisher, Beveler, Contact Lens Blocker, Contact Lens Blocker and Cutter, Contact Lens Cutter, Contact Lens Lathe Operator

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5110) (CIP 5110, 824 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Loma Linda University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loma-linda-university-1516) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $112,525 | $125,835 | $20,000 |
| [CUNY York College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-york-college-749) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $118,710 | $122,313 | not reported |
| [Stony Brook University SUNY](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stony-brook-university-suny-2611) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $115,173 | $110,827 | $19,000 |
| [Mercy College-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mercy-college-new-york-1643) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $116,152 | $110,519 | $25,000 |
| [California State University-Dominguez Hills](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-dominguez-hills-367) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $46,385 | $109,642 | $21,625 |
| [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-hunter-college-739) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $96,335 | $104,791 | not reported |
| [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/farmingdale-state-college-941) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $107,484 | $104,169 | not reported |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $108,720 | $101,370 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-and-polishing-workers-hand): $42,660 median pay
- [Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/grinding-lapping-polishing-and-buffing-machine-tool-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal): $46,550 median pay
- [Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tool-grinders-filers-and-sharpeners): $50,060 median pay
- [Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/timing-device-assemblers-and-adjusters): $62,620 median pay
- [Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/camera-and-photographic-equipment-repairers): $52,720 median pay
- [Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/milling-and-planing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic): $52,800 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.