Optician's Salary/Hourly Wages?

[chip anderson]

Jeeze guys, I haven't worked for those type slave wages since 1960 (and I'm not talking adjusted for inflation). Hell if you'll work that cheap, I could sure use some help.

Chip

[edKENdance]

Chip! Prepare my Visa. I'll work for you for 40 grand.

That's only 41,000 American


HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH

[Johns]

Jeeze guys, I haven't worked for those type slave wages since 1960 (and I'm not talking adjusted for inflation). Hell if you'll work that cheap, I could sure use some help.

Chip

Chip, that was back in 1985! That's when I made $8.50.

Today, I own my own place and am making well over $9.00 an hour!:cheers:

[optigrrl]

I found out recently that you can start out as a stock clerk at Target for $11.00/hr - and you don't have to work in the optical department. Ever.

[Johns]

I found out recently that you can start out as a stock clerk at Target for $11.00/hr - and you don't have to work in the optical department. Ever.

...unless you screw up really, really bad, tehn they send you to optical!:D

[optigrrl]

LOL!!! That's funny!

[35oldguy]

I found out recently that you can start out as a stock clerk at Target for $11.00/hr - and you don't have to work in the optical department. Ever.

What is really sad that the pay scale for entry level opticians is lower than a store clerk with little or no education!

[Bill West]

they pay $11 hr plus a five dollar add on for your license to start.

[Bill West]

Chip, that was back in 1985! That's when I made $8.50.

Today, I own my own place and am making well over $9.00 an hour!:cheers:

Glad you finally got a raise.:D
I think you are over paid.

[Johns]

Glad you finally got a raise.:D
I think you are over paid.

Yeah, but my lifestyle doesn't seem to have improved much.
Back then, I drove a new car, today I'm tooling around in a 1999 Windstar.
:hammer:

[chip anderson]

Actually I think my first job in the optical business paid $1.05 an hour + a nickel more for nights. First job in contacts, $1.25. First job period $.65 hr.
Second year I worked, my home room teacher quit teaching because I made more money than he did, had four jobs + school.

chip

[35oldguy]

Chip:

How many years ago was that? I bet those wages were worth more than todays!

[icu2gel58]

A licensed Optician in Florida should be making close to or $30.00 per hour... That seems to be the going rate. I work for 2 different companies and that is what I make. Salaries are creeping up every year due to the low volume of people becoming Licensed.

[bob_f_aboc]

A licensed Optician in Florida should be making close to or $30.00 per hour... That seems to be the going rate. I work for 2 different companies and that is what I make. Salaries are creeping up every year due to the low volume of people becoming Licensed.

In Texas which is non-licensed and making less than half that with 10 years experience.:(

[William Walker]

Hey all, long time no speak.
I think icu2gel58 is right if you average newer, hourly wage employees with veteran and management salaried employees. When opticians of mine get offers to move to competing companies, they usually throw around a $27.00ish/hr wage to start. I haven't lost an optician yet!

[Metronome]

Pakev, I hope you are kidding about the under $10. My daughter makes $10 an hour babysitting.

Delete.

[Metronome]

$40 for a temple bender?!?!?! Unless you're an owner or can walk on water, there is no way to justify that kind of money! (Unless you're a specialty CTL fitter).

There are many opticians asking 28+/hour Plus Benefits (which they can get at a chain, but they work like rented mules). It is my experience, though, that there is not always a correlation between Licensing status and Ability. I have worked with $30/hour prima donnas fresh from the licensing test who couldn't manage their way out of a wet paper bag with a sharp object and instructions. I have also had the honor of working with competent skilled folks (non licensed) making $12/hour, with whom I would much rather entrust my practice to if I needed to.

But, as in all professions, Licensing doesn't neccesarily weed out the incompetent...

Q. What do you call the person who finished Last in his Med School class?
A. DOCTOR

Delete.

[Metronome]

I think the "value" portion is the key. You must be, and show that you are, valuable to your employer in order to get a high rate of pay.

I know some certified or licensed opticians who are not especially valuable. They bend temples and take orders, and that's about the extent of it, and that's the basis for their pay. Minimum pay for minimum duties. Sure, they get "licensed pay" because they have the education and met state requirements, but it's minimum licensed pay.

I run my doctor's dispensary. He writes a couple of checks a month, and I do EVERYTHING else. I have made myself indispensible. I deliver profit to him, and do the work for him. And I get compensated well for what I do. When it comes down to it, though, he pays me well not because I have a license, but because I am valuable to him.

Delete.

[Metronome]

I can edge,surface, do my own drill mounts, make $800 sales, I am very good at purchasing for the business (buy low sell high), I come in early, leave late, I can run circles around most people. And while most people sit around thinking about what progressive lens has the least amount of distortion and why, I'm thinking about how I can take people who are wearing a Varilux Panamic and put them into an Adaptar but still charge them the same amount of money.....and what lab has a special on house brand A/R this month??????? Did I mention that on my day off I'm a Frame Rep!?

Delete.

[Metronome]

Thanks for posting this…. Sad to say, but it’s a relief to see that I am not the only one out there that thinks of what to do when you’re pay is maxed out.

Besides opening up an Optical Shop, or becoming a Sales Rep, what is one to do when the cost of living keeps increasing? Work for an M.D.? Does that make a difference, O.D. vs M.D?

Delete.

[Metronome]

I work part time at a private doctor's optical store. There are 2 other opticans working here, only myself and one other are certified. I have over 20 years experience.

I make $16.00 an hour plus a monthly bonus. The bonus varies from about $125. to $500.00. There have been a few months when it was higher, but they are rare.

She doesn't pay the certified opticians more. We are all experienced opticians.

She pays her full time opticians 2 weeks vacations, holiday, and 5 days sick pay. No medical insurance, and she does a 401K match. I get 5 vacation days and the 401. I have insurance through my husband, so I don't worry about that.

Delete.

[Metronome]

That is one reason why I am getting out of the dispensing business in the next couple of years.

I could war that hard in another industry and make much more. Better yet, I want to get my Phd and teach, work a lot less and get paid a hell of a lot more.

Delete.

[Metronome]

Damn:


I went independent and I still have to work 80 to 100 hours a week. Wish I knew what Mr. West was doing right.
Chip

Delete.

[Metronome]

If an optician wants to make more money, there are only 2 choices:

1) Start your own business -- This is a double-edged sword. You take away the ceiling that limits how much you can make, but you also take away the floor that stops your income from going into the negative.

2) Profit Share -- Convince your boss to give you part ownership of your company. Then expand into new markets and watch your net worth skyrocket.

Delete.

[Metronome]

I sound like a broken record but I will say it again, OD's Or MD's don't pay. They like lining there own pockets at the expense of all there workers they hire or fire. You said it youself " both have BRAND NEW LEXUSES " that should give you a clue where they want to spend there money. If they had half a brain they would understand that if you paid a decent wage, you could hire compentent help who would more than compliment there practice. But sadly they don't see the glass half full they see the glass half empty! I don't know what course they took in Optometry School but it must have been " How to be cheap with help while you live like a KING " or something akin to that. It's just unbelivable how OD's and MD's think. ME first and the to H_ll with the wrest of you. Sorry for the rant, but I have been burned by too many of these egotistical blow hards who have not the foggest idea on how to run a business and when you come and show them, three years later your called greedy for asking for $1.00 increase in you pay and told your not needed and let go! Just my 2 cents!:shiner:

Delete.