Home / Apprenticeships / Occupations / Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians: apprenticeship hours and pay
O*NET-SOC 51-9083.00
Approved titles
8
RAPIDS codes
Shortest term
2,000 h
longest minimum 10,000 h
National median pay
$39,460
a year, BLS May 2025
Jobs nationally
18,660
BLS May 2025
Approved apprenticeship titles
- Training approaches
- competency-based, hybrid, time-based
- Shortest approved term
- 2,000 hours, Blocker & Cutter Contact Lens (competency-based)
- State medians
- $62,410 in Connecticut to $24,420 in Puerto Rico (41 states publish one)
| Title | RAPIDS code | Approach and term |
|---|---|---|
| Blocker & Cutter Contact Lens | 0889 | Competency-Based: 2,000 hours Hybrid: 2,000 to 2,500 hours Time-Based: 2,000 hours |
| LAY-OUT TECHNICIAN | 0554 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| OPTICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY | 0250 | Competency-Based: 4,000 hours Hybrid: 4,000 to 5,000 hours Time-Based: 4,000 hours |
| OPTICIAN (Op Gds; Ret Tr) (Alternate Title: Optical Laboratory Specialist ) | 0032 | Competency-Based: 10,000 hours Hybrid: 10,000 to 12,500 hours Time-Based: 10,000 hours |
| OPTICIAN (Optical Goods) | 0377 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| PRECISION-LENS GRINDER | 0277 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| SHOP OPTICIAN, BENCHROOM | 0524 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
| SHOP OPTICIAN, SURFACE ROOM | 0526 | Competency-Based: 8,000 hours Hybrid: 8,000 to 10,000 hours Time-Based: 8,000 hours |
What ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn, by state
| State | Median pay | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $62,410 | $30.01 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $59,460 | $28.59 | 180 |
| Washington | $49,230 | $23.67 | 260 |
| Colorado | $48,540 | $23.34 | 320 |
| Rhode Island | $47,440 | $22.81 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,420 | $22.80 | Not published |
| California | $47,410 | $22.79 | 1,630 |
| Maryland | $47,100 | $22.64 | 360 |
| Ohio | $46,320 | $22.27 | 560 |
| Oregon | $45,780 | $22.01 | 250 |
| Michigan | $45,490 | $21.87 | 330 |
| Georgia | $45,050 | $21.66 | 960 |
| Kansas | $44,920 | $21.60 | Not published |
| North Carolina | $44,140 | $21.22 | 210 |
| Maine | $43,520 | $20.92 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $43,100 | $20.72 | Not published |
| Wisconsin | $42,920 | $20.64 | 200 |
| New York | $42,450 | $20.41 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | $19.54 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $40,280 | $19.37 | 1,110 |
| Nevada | $38,990 | $18.74 | 240 |
| Missouri | $38,740 | $18.62 | 360 |
| Arizona | $38,620 | $18.57 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $38,590 | $18.55 | 130 |
| Florida | $38,020 | $18.28 | 1,230 |
| Texas | $37,920 | $18.23 | 3,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,680 | $18.12 | 510 |
| Tennessee | $37,370 | $17.97 | 130 |
| Indiana | $37,360 | $17.96 | 330 |
| Louisiana | $37,160 | $17.86 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $37,140 | $17.86 | Not published |
| Arkansas | $37,060 | $17.82 | 170 |
| Alabama | $37,010 | $17.80 | 190 |
| Illinois | $36,840 | $17.71 | 830 |
| Kentucky | $36,650 | $17.62 | 610 |
| Oklahoma | $35,620 | $17.12 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $35,230 | $16.94 | 220 |
| Virginia | $34,170 | $16.43 | 470 |
| South Carolina | $34,140 | $16.42 | 130 |
| Iowa | $33,910 | $16.30 | 100 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,420 | $11.74 | 1,360 |
Finding a program
How to find a sponsor that trains this title · Apprenticeship sponsors by state (25,633) · All approved occupations
- Approved titles and terms: apprenticeship.gov approved occupations list, Last-Modified October 8, 2026, read October 8, 2026.
- Pay and jobs: BLS OEWS, May 2025, all industries, read October 8, 2026.