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Optical Jobs in Cleveland, OH (NOW HIRING)

Folio Photonics

Optical Engineer - Solon

Solon, OH · On-site

$70 - $90/hr

Solon, Ohio Optical Engineer I Location: Folio Photonics; Solon, OH -- on-site Job Type: Full time Reports to: Head of Optical Engineering COMPANY DESCRIPTION Folio Photonics is a dynamic startup ...

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SEE Eyewear

Optical Stylist

Shaker Heights, OH · On-site

$16.50 - $21.50/hr

Licensed Opticians will assist clients and patients with their optical needs-leveraging knowledge of current eyewear trends, and optical knowledge to provide an exemplary experience to every SEE ...

Clarkson Eyecare

Optical Technician / Optician

Cleveland, OH · On-site

$16.75 - $21.50/hr

Employee Discounts SUMMARY An Optical Technician will achieve a world class Total Patient Experience that maximizes retail sales while also supporting the patients' medical needs. This team member is ...

Clarkson Eyecare

Optical Technician / Optician

Northfield, OH · On-site

$15.75 - $20.25/hr

Employee Discounts SUMMARY An Optical Technician will achieve a world class Total Patient Experience that maximizes retail sales while also supporting the patients' medical needs. This team member is ...

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All JobsOptical JobsOptical Jobs in Cleveland, OH

Optical information

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How much do optical jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for optical in Cleveland, OH is $20.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.87 and $22.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are optical jobs?

Optical jobs refer to roles within the vision care and eyewear industry, such as opticians, optical assistants, and technicians. These professionals help customers select and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses, assist with vision tests, and provide support to optometrists and ophthalmologists. They may also perform repairs and adjustments on eyewear and educate customers about lens options and eye care. Working in optical jobs typically requires strong customer service skills and a basic understanding of eye anatomy and optical products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an optical technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Optical Technician, you need a strong understanding of optics, lens fabrication, and vision correction, often supported by a high school diploma and on-the-job training or certification. Familiarity with lensometers, auto-refractors, and optical dispensing software is typically required. Attention to detail, customer service skills, and effective communication help you excel when assisting patients and collaborating with eye care professionals. These skills are crucial for ensuring accurate prescription fulfillment, patient satisfaction, and the smooth operation of optical services.

What are some common challenges faced by optical technicians, and how can they effectively address them?

Optical technicians often encounter challenges such as keeping up with evolving lens technologies, managing high volumes of customer orders, and ensuring precise fabrication and fitting of eyewear. Staying updated through ongoing training and certifications is essential to handle new equipment and materials. Additionally, strong communication and organizational skills help in coordinating with optometrists and delivering excellent customer service. Collaborating closely with the rest of the optical team ensures that patient needs are met efficiently and accurately.

What is the difference between an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, and an optician?

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are both medical eye care professionals, but they differ in their level of training. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors and complete eight years of medical school. They can practice medicine and perform surgery. Optometrists are not medical doctors. Optometrists earn a doctor of optometry degree after attending four years of optometry school. These professionals primarily perform eye exams and vision tests, but they can also identify some basic eye abnormalities. Optometrists are also licensed to prescribe some medications. Opticians are eyewear specialists and do not need any formal medical education.

What is the difference between Optical vs Optometrist?

AspectOpticalOptometrist
CredentialsTypically requires optical technician or assistant certificationRequires Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree and licensure
Work EnvironmentOptical stores, eyewear retail, labsClinics, private practices, healthcare settings
Industry UsageFocuses on eyewear fitting, lens selection, customer serviceFocuses on eye exams, vision testing, diagnosing eye conditions

Optical roles mainly involve assisting with eyewear and customer service, while optometrists provide comprehensive eye care and diagnosis. Both are essential in eye health but differ significantly in education and scope of practice.

How long is schooling to become an optical?

Becoming an optical technician typically requires completing a post-secondary program or certificate that lasts from several months up to a year. For opticians, the process often involves completing an associate degree or a specialized training program, followed by certification or licensing depending on the state or country. Practical experience and knowledge of optical equipment are also important components of training.

Is optical technician a good career?

Optical technicians assist in the fabrication, repair, and fitting of eyeglasses and optical devices, often working in retail or laboratory settings. The role typically requires technical training or certification and offers steady employment with opportunities for advancement in the eye care industry.
More about Optical jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Optical jobs in Cleveland, OH?

The most popular types of Optical jobs in Cleveland, OH are:

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For Optical jobs in Cleveland, OH, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Optical jobs in Cleveland, OH look for?

The top searched job categories for Optical jobs in Cleveland, OH are:

What cities near Cleveland, OH are hiring for Optical jobs?

Cities near Cleveland, OH with the most Optical job openings:

Optical jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optical job openings in Cleveland, OH as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,247 per year, or $20.8 per hour.

Optical Engineer - Solon

Folio Photonics

Solon, OH • On-site

$70 - $90/hr

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Job description

Location: Solon, Ohio

Optical Engineer I

Location: Folio Photonics; Solon, OH — on-siteJob Type: Full timeReports to: Head of Optical Engineering

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Folio Photonics is a dynamic startup company focused on developing a multi-terabyte multilayer fluorescent optical disc with a decades-long shelf life, a small environmental footprint, and low total cost of ownership. This technology represents a significant and much-needed breakthrough for the archival and nearline data storage industry. Our engineering team possesses the diverse range of skills needed to bring the optical media, the optical pickup, and the optical disc drive to market — chemistry, physics, materials and polymer science, and optical, mechanical, computer, electronic, firmware, and software engineering. Our team is composed of talented individuals who thrive in a high-tech, interdisciplinary environment.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Optical Engineer I supports development of the optical pickup unit (OPU) that reads and writes data to our multilayer optical discs, and of the media that the OPU has to address. You will be given well-defined analysis, modeling, and laboratory tasks, and your work will be reviewed as you build depth. Within your first year, we expect you to be independently owning component-level analyses and measurements. You will have impactful scope and influence to a real product development program.

JOB DUTIES
  • Build, run, and extend optical models in Zemax and MATLAB or Python to support OPU and media development
  • Interpret laboratory and spinstand measurement data; produce reports that inform engineering decisions
  • Set up, align, and operate optical test benches; take systematic, reproducible, well-logged data
  • Support component characterization and incoming inspection of lenses, coatings, sources, and detectors
  • Run optical tolerance and sensitivity analyses
  • Support optical, opto-mechanical, and system-level integration and test activities
  • Document work in written test reports and analysis memos, present results to the engineering teams and uplevel to leadership
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
  • BS, MS, Ph.D., in Optical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field; 0–2 years of professional experience
  • Solid command of geometrical and physical optics: aberrations, diffraction, NA and depth of focus, interference, and polarization. You can work these problems, not just define them.
  • Experience with optical design software (Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, or equivalent): you can build a sequential model from a prescription and run standard analyses
  • Proficiency in MATLAB or Python for modeling and data reduction
  • Demonstrated hands-on optical laboratory experience at the bench: aligning multi-element optical paths, working with lasers, lenses, mirrors, coatings, detectors, and opto-mechanical mounts
  • Familiarity with optical instrumentation — some subset of interferometers, wavefront sensors, beam profilers, spectrometers, autocollimators, alignment telescopes, microscopes, and power meters
  • AI-augmented engineering practice. Fluent use of AI assistants and coding copilots as everyday working tools — code generation and debugging, data reduction, literature and patent search, and technical drafting. Equally important: you can critically evaluate AI output, recognize when it is confidently wrong, and validate it against analytic limits, known results, or measurement before it leaves your hands.
  • Sound judgment about confidentiality is required — Folio’s optical designs, supplier specifications, and media formulations are proprietary
  • Clear technical writing, and the professional honesty to report a result you do not like
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Thin-film interference and transfer-matrix modeling of multilayer stacks
  • Statistical methods applied to engineering problems: Monte Carlo, design of experiments, measurement uncertainty
  • Experience with tolerance analysis in Zemax or Code V
  • Experience with wave-based optics modeling techniques - RCWA, FDTD
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