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.  Some ophthalmic technicians work in optical laboratories or for optometrists or ophthalmologists.  Many work in retail stores that have optical departments.

Salary:$15,000 - $20,000

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