Optics Technicians
Overview
Introduction
Optics technicians design, fabricate, assemble, or install optical instruments, such as telescopes, microscopes, aerial cameras, and eyeglasses. The most common types of optics technicians are precision-lens technicians and precision-lens grinders (sometimes called ophthalmic technicians), and photonics technicians.
In general, these careers may be distinguished from one another in the following ways: Precision-lens technicians handle the whole range of manufacturing activities to fabricate...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries and wages vary according to the aspect of the industry and the type of work the technician is doing.
Among the lowest paid workers in the general occupation of optics technicians are optical laboratory technicians (OLTs). According to PayScale.com, in 2025 OLTs earned salaries that ranged from $35,000 to $75,000.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in May 2023 the ...
Work Environment
In some polishing and hand-figuring rooms, and in the first assembly rooms, it is sometimes necessary to provide special dust, humidity, and temperature controls. Technicians are required to wear clean, lint-free garments, and to use caps and overshoe covers. These rooms are widely used whenever the work requires the most meticulous cleanliness, since a single piece of lint might cause the loss...
Outlook
The field of optics technology should experience average growth in the coming years. Employment of photonics technicians is expected to increase at an average (4%) pace through 2033, according to O*NET. Most job openings will likely arise from the need to replace technicians who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. Only a small number of job openings will be created each year...