$16.00 an hour?

**CCGREEN** · 10-07-2010, 12:09 PM

Work with a OD here in the panhandle of Florida that seems to be in "the loop" of the business. She stated to me the other day that Wal-Mart has changed the way that they are paying there licensed Optician's. Starting them at $16.00 and hr. Now if that is in a unlicensed state then I guess you could call that good. But if that is here in Florida, shoot, that would be a insult to our profession. I would not look twice. Anybody else in the know about this?

**Fezz** · 10-07-2010, 12:14 PM

Welcome to the real world.

You would be hard pressed to get half of that in my neck of the woods!

**varmint** · 10-07-2010, 12:15 PM

We have lots of places here in AZ who only pay those amounts & dangle a promise of commissions to entice opticians.

**WFruit** · 10-07-2010, 12:50 PM

See here, from the end of July: http://eyeoverheard.wordpress.com/20...pay-structure/

I guess being "in the loop" means knowing which websites to look at :p

**Geirskogul** · 10-07-2010, 08:06 PM

Where I work, that would be a treasure chest, even to licensed opticians. It all depends on location and cost of living. Rats make more than that in New York, but kings could make less in Montana. Keep it in perspective, dude.

**uncut** · 10-07-2010, 08:18 PM

Vomit clean-up in Aisle 29! Would I have to clean toilets?

**braheem24** · 10-07-2010, 08:27 PM

I just offered an ABOM not Florida licensed $26+ per hour and I was turned down. Wally world can have all $16 opticians in Florida.

**Geirskogul** · 10-07-2010, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by braheem24

I just offered an ABOM not Florida licensed $26+ per hour and I was turned down. Wally world can have all $16 opticians in Florida.

WHERE in Florida? The whole argument depends on location, which is why I think complaining about prices and salary online, in an inherently location-inspecific medium, is near pointless.

Now, discussing prices and geography is constructive.

**Wes** · 10-07-2010, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by braheem24

I just offered an ABOM not Florida licensed $26+ per hour and I was turned down. Wally world can have all $16 opticians in Florida.

Those ABOMs sure can be picky! Heck, I wouldn't get out of bed for $16 an hr...

**cocoisland58** · 10-08-2010, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by wss2020

Heck, I wouldn't get out of bed for $16 an hr...

But a lot of people would. I do. Add on a very good commission package, health insurance and vacation time and in this state you have what is considered a very good job in optical.

**Wes** · 10-08-2010, 06:24 AM

Don't get your feathers in a ruffle, just makin jokes.

**CNG** · 10-08-2010, 06:30 AM

Sounds like a game plan...after meeting the stringent state education/experience or apprentice requirements just to qualify for the state test......after 700 hundred dollars in state testing...after another 300 hundred in national testing and another 300 in the license...sounds like BS to me....time to move on. If the economy continues this way many many national chains will have to close which will bring opportunity back to independent ODs/OMD and Opticians. Megaopticals cannot adjust as easy as us little guys. The have to comply with the law too. Florida Opticals in such places get complacent until they are fined. Then they realized how important is the licensed optician.

The pandhandle should be an excellent place to start a business as there are no opticianry schools and competition is not that heavy...but again I have not been there for a while.

CNG

**cocoisland58** · 10-08-2010, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by wss2020

Don't get your feathers in a ruffle, just makin jokes.

Well you know how well sarcasm comes across on a message board. Besides I'm hormonal today ;)

**Wes** · 10-08-2010, 07:40 AM

I suppose an emoticon was in order...

**sharpstick777** · 10-11-2010, 03:51 PM

We just did a salary survey here in Washington (Opticians Association) and the average for LDO's was $29 an hour...

**racethe1320** · 10-11-2010, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by cocoisland58

But a lot of people would. I do. Add on a very good commission package, health insurance and vacation time and in this state you have what is considered a very good job in optical.

^^ this. depending on the market you're in the rates will vary. here in my neck of the country, it's tough to find good help. even today, it's tough. warm bodies, easy, but good help, difficult. I pay more than the above and have other benefits I offer, but even I'm not the best deal in town. I do however, have traffic and offer opportunity vs many others around my area.

**Johns** · 10-11-2010, 08:24 PM

It seems like the only time we even hire is when we open a new location. I've got stacks of resumes, but I advertise the positions just to get fresh applicants.

I know a lot of people that lament the fact that it's difficult to find good help. When they tell me what they pay, it's not surprising that they have a difficult time filling positions.

$16 an hour? I'm not in Florida, but we pay quite a bit more than that for licensed opticians. Of course, if they don't belong to the state association, I don't hire them at all.