Optician

Duties and Responsibilities:As a dispensing optician you will dispense and fit spectacles and other optical aids, to both adults and children, working from the prescriptions written by optometrists and ophthalmologists. You'll advise patients on various types of lenses and spectacle frames, including style, weight and colour.

Salary:How much does a Optician make? The median annual Optician salary is $43,425, as of February 22, 2017, with a range usually between $40,124-$52,367, however this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. Our team of Certified Compensation Professionals has analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to present this range of annual salaries for people with the job title Optician in the United States.

Education:While there are no specific educational requirements for an optician, an associate's or bachelor's degree in opticianry may offer a competitive advantage. Opticianry courses educate students in the anatomy and physiology of the human eye, optical fundamentals and refraction. Through clinical training, students also have opportunities to learn about polishing, hand beveling, heat treatment, tinting and fitting glasses.While licensing requirements vary by state, some states mandate that applicants pass a practical or written examination. Employers may require prospective opticians to be certified by the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners.

Demand or need for this profession:Receive customers’ prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses Measure customers’ eyes and faces, such as the distance between their pupils

Help customers choose eyeglass frames and lens treatments, such as eyewear for occupational use or sports, tints or anti-reflective coatings, based on their vision needs and style preferences Create work orders for ophthalmic laboratory technicians, providing information about the lenses needed Adjust eyewear to ensure a good fit Repair or replace broken eyeglass frames Educate customers about eyewear—for example, show them how to care for their contact lenses Perform business tasks, such as maintaining sales records, keeping track of customers’ prescriptions, and ordering and maintaining inventory.