I have been searching for a data bank that lists generic job descriptions for the industry and salary ranges. I think it would be a good idea if we all might pool our sources and have this accessible as a link on Optiboard. Thoughts?
Job Descriptions
I have been searching for a data bank that lists generic job descriptions for the industry and salary ranges. I think it would be a good idea if we all might pool our sources and have this accessible as a link on Optiboard. Thoughts?
Bev,
Sounds like a good idea, but the terms of what people are called differ so much, whether it be state by state , or country to country.
Good luck anyway and I wish you well.
Do what ever is needed. Go home at the end of the day.
All other job decriptions are an attempt to woose out of the above.
Old reply removed. Misunderstood the query.
There is some of that type of information in sections of the better book stores. Look for the books about careers. Listed by job type - last one I saw Optical was listed under Medical. Will try and get a few names for you Bev.
Last edited by JRS; 06-15-2001 at 01:23 AM.
I think what Bev is looking for is;
Job title.............................Salary
Optician..........................$50,000 yr
Contact Lens Fitter.........$55,000 yr
Lab rat............................$38,000 yr
etc.....
All wages are in Can$ or US$ or xxxxxx.
Including a generic job description for each.....Mullo
Last edited by mullo; 06-15-2001 at 09:49 AM.
We are rewriting all the job postions in our office to reflect that customer service and patient service are priority and knowledge needed.They include Supervisors of each department, receptionists, optometric assistant, ophthalmic assistant, dispensing opticians, lab technicians.
I have software but most of it is generic. Obviously the job description would tie into performance expectations at review time. The other situation is range of salary for each position such as Receptionist $7-10 per hour and what each increment adds.
As I am in an unlicensed state I think some of the knowledge needed for optician will come from ABO/NCLE testing criteria for the opticians as currently I have "opticians" who think calculating a formula is prescribing.
Any other thoughts? :)
That is a hard one as they said before it goes from state to state.
Best source for the information you requested will be salary research done NAO. Also if you work with an MD setting or similar ,
the association of technical personnel in ophthalmology, ATPO sell a study of their results.
I think another source as far as description is the labor department job title. You can find that book in any library. Yet another source would be state by state labor departments, you'll be amazed.
I did a study a couple years ago on my own,prior to starting my own business. I was at the time managing a large MD ophth. practice. The unofficial results for midflorida were as follow.
Optometrists recent grad-$45K
Optometrists 5 years 65-75 k
Ophthalmologists starting 100k
Specialists MD (retina) 175K-225K
Technical staff
Optometric assistant per hour 8-9 max 12
duities: VA, autorefract, K's History
Optometric tech 8-14
same as above but did TA
Ophthalmic Assistant (uncertified)
same as optometric tech.
COA 10-14 per hour
Duties History, VA, TA, Motility, Auto K, Auto refract, surgery asst.
COT 12-18 (seen it up 25)
Duties History, VA, TA, Motility, refractometry, slit lamp screening, surgery asst., photography, topography. A-B scans. Contact lenses.
COMT 12-25 (seen it up 30)
Duties- History, VA, motility, refractometry, slit lamp, photography
flourec. Angio, low vision, a-b scans, specialty instruments and others (They perform almost at the same level as an OD), Contact lenses
CRA-30k to 55k
Supervising phography unit (digital )
Optical
Lab manager 35-42K
Lab techs 10-15 hour
License optician 30K plus commision (that add up to about 23 hour)
Optical manager (multiunit locations smooth operation super)
45-55K plus 6 month bonus based on total sales.
Our Contact lens dept was headed by an OD with COT-COMT and a couple board licensed opticians. They would also get commision on the cls they fitted.
Practice manager ....(me)
Practice administrator .....(way too much)
The above figures are not that old so they must be almost the same. As far as opticians goes, payscale would advance more if they took a tech position and became certified as COT etc.
One interesting side note:
Some techs that had work for the same MD for several years earned more than others because their Md "could not practice without them" would make my life miserable because they had topped the payscale.Still they got a raise!
Dannyboy
:) :) :)
Hey over here!! Can I want an application from Dannyboy or Mullo!! LOL!! That is more money than I have ever made in my life with 3-4 or more job descriptions!! That's it I am moving!
Steph
:bbg:
Hi Bev,
There is a web site called salary.com that has the information you want for most job descriptions. It is also broken down by geographic area and high, low and average salary range. Also gives ranges taking into account years of experience.
Hope this helps!
eyespy
eyespy...What a terrific web site salary.com is. I am looking for employment in the state of Virginia and now feel I have a better understanding on what Opticians are worth. The sight even compares state to state and national salaries for comparising. Thanks. Really.
Wow...June 2001 post...How the world has changed.
Jim Schafer
Retired From PPG Industries/
Transitions Optical, Inc.
When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say even less.
Paul Brown
Title: Optician/Optometric Assistant
Duties: Pre-test; VA; history; scheduling; insurance; reception; sell; repair; adjust; inventory
Salary: $8/hr; no bonus; no commission; no benefits
I almost spit out my coffee. You nailed it!Originally Posted by Browman
Sadly, I wasn't joking. Though the $8 does at least reflect I raise I recently received. Before that, I was doing minimum wage.
Brow, I've told you how under paid you are in this market. Why do you stay there?
I started in the business in 2003, at minimum wage. Worked at the same place for almost 10 years. Received more responsibility, stagnant wages, and no paid time off. After a few discussions, some heated, I left the practice. I started at a new practice where my roll is strictly edging, selling, adjusting, repairing, and sometimes even troubleshooting online orders (for a fee of course). No more reception and the lot.
It's refreshing to be at a practice where the OD's actually come to me and ask for my suggestions, rather than telling me what I'm going to do.
My hope, is that you find something somewhere to where you're appreciated and compensated properly. It's such an awful feeling to know that a lot of us frame benders are looked at as just that by both our patients and sometimes our docs.
It's certainly not for lack of trying. I've been on the job hunt for some time now. But no one's "bitten" yet, and, well, a job is better than no job.
Though I must confess, my own pride is a part of the reason. I did have a job offer that would pay more... But I would rather not work a drive through window.
and the "job" of Optician has so evolved since I got into the business in the 1970's. "Opticians" back then had to be able to surface, finish and dispense...if you wanted a real job. Now, most places are looking for glorified Opt-tech and calling them 'opticians'. Salaries: before 2008, most of the licenses I knew in Florid were making at least $25.00 and hour. After 2008, many were lucky to get $10.00..if they could get a job.
Most of the experienced opticians I have met here in the Triangle are making between $35k-$40k a year.
"Coimhéad fearg fhear na foighde"
These low wages are, in part, why online is seeing such growth. Competant, caring and talented people won'twork for these low wages.
If the chains ever got this through their thick skulls, then online wouldn't pose any longterm threat!
B
Funny you should mention this. Earlier this year I found a posting for one of the onliners looking for experienced optical staff to work in a customer service call center. Required at least one year working in a dispensary with preferred two years +. Starting salary was $25k/yr with the potential for a higher wage for ABO certification. Looks like the competent, caring and talented people are being snatched up by online.
I've been trying to decide whether the ophthalmic technician, assistant, or optician route is the best way to go. From what I've read at http://www.opticiantraining.org/opht...istant-salary/ it seems like there isn't a huge difference in what you will earn in any of the positions. My impression is that an individual should select the area of practice that is most in-line with their personality and preferred work environment. The ophthalmic assistant and technician work more in the medical side of the business while the optician helps customers select and fit eyeglasses in the optical retail side of the business. It also seems like it wouldn't be too hard to transition from one profession to another within the specialty since educational, training, and certification requirements are relatively low.
It seems hard to believe that the fast food workers are protesting asking for 15.00 /hr and yet there are opticians out there making less than that??
Currently seeking experienced tech starting at $11 ph max at $15 per. 1 qualified applicant after 3 weeks. Hundreds of applicants, only 1 qualified.
The first step, especially in the optical industry where there is little standardization is to conduct a job analysis. You will find that some offices have different ideas on what each staff member should do. Then you can develop a description to find an appropriate individual for your specific needs.
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