Optometric Technician Job Description
Optometric technicians work with optometrists to assist in carrying out eye examinations and treatments. Optometric technicians most frequently work in optometrists' offices and are known as optometrist techs, but they may also be employed in eye care clinics and other vision treatment facilities. An optometric technician's work responsibilities include:
- Testing patients' visual acuity, depth perception, pressure inside of the eye, color vision and pupil reflexes
- Prepare examine schedules and ready exam rooms
- Assisting in making or repairing eyeglasses
- Cleaning ocular equipment and perform other duties as needed.
Optometric technicians may also be called an eye doctor technician.
| Education | High school diploma required, training programs and associate degrees available |
| Job Skills | Patient rapport, work precision, teamwork, office application skills |
| Median Salary (2021) | $37,190 for medical assistants |
| Job Growth (2021-2031) | 16% for medical assistants |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Education Required for an Optometrist Tech
To become an optometric technician, you should at least have your high school diploma. An optometric technician training program or a 2-year associate's degree will make you more competitive as an optometric technician. Common courses to help you prepare for a career in optometry include anatomy, physiology of the eye, optics, optometric procedures and optical devices.
Required Skills for a Career as an Optometric Technician
Working as an optometric technician requires that you have a good rapport with patients, communicate effectively with superiors, and be precise in your work. Optometric technician jobs require basic math and physics skills, an ability to work well as part of a team and familiarity with common office applications will help you to succeed as an optometry technician. Eye doctor technician salary can be found below.
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Employment and Economic Outlook
The employment outlook for optometric technicians, who fall into the larger category of medical assistants, is quite good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in this field will grow by 16% from 2021-2031. The median annual optometrist tech salary and salary for other workers in this field in 2012 was $37,190. This statistic includes the information for a vision care technology salary.
Alternate Career Options
Dental Assistant
Depending on state requirements, dental assistants might enter the profession with no postsecondary education, while others must complete an accredited program and pass a licensing exam. The duties of these assistants vary widely, from taking x-rays and providing patient care to handling administrative tasks. Much faster than average expansion of positions was expected by the BLS, with 8% growth predicted from 2021-2031. In 2021, a median annual salary of $38,660 was reported by the BLS.
Pharmacy Technician
State requirements vary, so some techs complete training programs with a licensing exam, while others learn their skills on the job to help licensed pharmacists dispense prescriptions. Average growth was expected in this profession from 2021-2031, with a 5% increase in jobs predicted by the BLS. Median wages of $36,740 per year were reported by the BLS in 2021.
