6 of the Most Popular Types of Optical Associate Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Optical Associate jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Optical Associate Jobs

• No Experience Optical

  Salary range: $34,000 - $48,500

  No Experience Optical is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for No Experience Optical jobs pay between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $48,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for No Experience Optical job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Optical Technician

  Salary range: $34,000 - $48,500

  An optical technician, also known as an ophthalmic laboratory technician, fills prescriptions for eyeglass lenses and contact lenses. As an optical technician, you may work in a medical equipment laboratory or directly in an optometrist’s office. One of your job duties is utilizing manufacturing machinery, such as grinders and lensometers, to ensure each lens is curved to the correct prescription for individual patients. Optical technicians are different from opticians, but some offices use the terms interchangeably. A technician usually works closely with an optometrist, or eye doctor, to ensure that each set of lenses is created correctly. Other common responsibilities include fitting glasses frames to suit the patient’s face, checking the correct prescription is sent to the lab, and drafting records about each order that is filled. Some employers require optical technicians to perform administrative duties, such as updating patient records and verifying insurance policies.

• Optical

  Salary range: $34,000 - $48,500

  Optical is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Optical jobs pay between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $48,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Optical job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Optometrist Assistant

  Salary range: $33,500 - $37,500

  An optometrist is a medical professional who provides vision and eye care. An optometrist assistant, also called an “optometric assistant,” works with the optometrist to ensure the office runs smoothly. As an optometrist assistant, your job duties include scheduling appointments, filing paperwork, handling other bookkeeping tasks, and answering the phone. You may also have some clinical responsibilities, such as performing pretests for vision exams, prepping exam rooms, cleaning and setting up equipment, and showing patients how to care for contact lenses.

• Optical Assistant

  Salary range: $32,000 - $38,000

  An optical assistant is a vision care customer’s first point of contact, as you work in the retail or sales departments or optometrist’s offices. In this career, you are responsible for greeting patients and helping them select the right eyewear as well as repairing and making adjustments to the eyewear. Assistants perform duties such as fitting eyeglasses or contacts under supervision, measuring an eye or bridge of the nose, scheduling appointments, gathering important patient information, and maintaining medical files. Customer service is an important part of the job.

• Optician

  Salary range: $34,500 - $44,500

  Opticians work with optometrists or ophthalmologists to design and fit corrective lenses for patients. These lenses include glasses and contact lenses, as well as low-vision aids (magnifying lenses) and ophthalmic prosthetics (artificial eyes), depending on the patient’s needs and the instructions given by the optometrist or ophthalmologist. Opticians make adjustments to the devices to ensure comfort for the patient, such as tightening or loosening glasses frames. While opticians are trained to read the prescriptions provided by the eye doctor, they do not test vision, write prescriptions, or diagnose or treat any eye conditions.