Results 1 to 23 of 23

Thread: I'm sure this has been posted and discussed at lenght, but just in case it hasn't...

  1. #1
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591

    I'm sure this has been posted and discussed at lenght, but just in case it hasn't...

    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  2. #2
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Java99's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Texas
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    1,178
    That's not something I ever would have expected to see.

  3. #3
    bilateral peripheral scotoma LandLord's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Maple City
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    824
    It makes perfect sense. The extremely low wages cause huge financial stress at home. By comparison, the relative low stress level at work makes it seem like a great job.
    Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

  4. #4
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591
    Gee, I never realized how much I was overpaying my opticians. $35k? What a bargain!
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  5. #5
    OptiBoardaholic OptiBoard Silver Supporter
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    296
    wtf

  6. #6
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591
    Forget the article....read the comments! (Looks like the Optoboarders have started posting)

    Ron 1 hour ago 0

    1


    OMG: I can tell you that after 40 years of working as an optician the stress level of dealing with people was intense much of the time. There is little job security and many jobs are part time. License demands require continuing education that the optician pays for .I never met an optician who was happy with his or her work and I've met many as I've been active in my state and local societies.
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  7. #7
    Forever Liz's Dad Steve Machol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Back in AZ
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    10,252
    Alright fess up! Who posted comments on that article and what did you say?


    OptiBoard Administrator
    ----
    OptiBoard has been proudly serving the Eyecare Community since 1995.

  8. #8
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    north of 49
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,002
    I wonder who Capt. Ron is!
    Eyes wide open

  9. #9
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Bristol
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    268
    He was in the wrong circles - NEVER met one who was happy? Poor guy :(

  10. #10
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Down in a hole!
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    13,078
    Quite an interesting read.....the comments that is, the article made me giggle!

  11. #11
    Master OptiBoarder DanLiv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    700
    It's unfortunate but all the "opticians" who are complaining about how terrible their job is, are really not complaining about being an optician at all, they are complaining about being corporate tools. Working for a retail optical is only tangentially being an optician. One is really just a salesperson (and that's exactly all the company wants from you), and the sprocket you happen to be selling is eyeglasses. All the downsides of that are the downsides of retail sales, not of being an optician.

    I spent years in that scene. That was my first experience with the optical business, and like the commenters, I thought that was being an optician. But now I know my ability to be an optician in that setting was very limited. There were only a handful of products at my disposal, picked and private label rebranded by corporate, and every customer had to be wedged into one of those options. As far as product knowledge it would be more challenging to work at Radio Shack.

    Opticians will never be free of dealing with the public and wrangling with fees, but in a decent office where you can gain skills and use them, and build relationships with patients instead of manning a revolving door of one-shot customers, most of those retail headaches melt away.

  12. #12
    OptiBoardaholic OptiBoard Silver Supporter
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    296
    I agree with you Daniel Livingston. Private practices or owning an optique are very rewarding and good place to learn many life/business skills. The pay isn't very attractive in todays economy unless maybe you a an owner of successful optique. However, I don't think that opticianry should be the "most recommended job" either. Maybe moderately recommended but not #1

  13. #13
    Master OptiBoarder DanLiv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    700
    Thanks Erich. It is telling and interesting that even if the top ranking is inflated, it is the best ranked for the (meager) pay. Certainly being an optician has a limited monetary ceiling, but unspoilt by corporate retailing it can be very satisfying.

    I wonder how many successful optical owners still really get to be opticians. I'm sure the pressures and concerns of business ownership pretty heavily eclipse the daily work of an optician. On Optiboard we enjoy the insights of many skilled owners who still get their hands deep into opticianry, but my experience suggests such pros are rare gems far from the norm.

    I would recommend opticianry to friends, but only if they prioritize fulfillment. I am fortunate to have trained and work with two opticians who like their jobs (love is a pretty strong statement) and have found fulfillment in it as I do.

    Regardless of the accuracy of the poll, it's nice to see our more obscure discipline get some positive light.

  14. #14
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591
    Quote Originally Posted by DanLiv View Post
    Thanks Erich. It is telling and interesting that even if the top ranking is inflated, it is the best ranked for the (meager) pay. Certainly being an optician has a limited monetary ceiling, but unspoilt by corporate retailing it can be very satisfying.
    The pay is limited by the optician's abilities. These abilities are not limited to their skill set, but also their ability to position themselves in the marketplace to get the best pay possible. I know of at least 3 Optiboarders that make well over $80k, and I'm sure there are many more folks like them out there. (I prefer to associate with higher paid opticians, so I have a better chance of not having to pay my bar tab.)
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  15. #15
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    2,827
    Quote Originally Posted by Johns View Post
    The pay is limited by the optician's abilities. These abilities are not limited to their skill set, but also their ability to position themselves in the marketplace to get the best pay possible.
    Exactly this. Even in an unlicensed state such as mine if you are smart enough to educate and market yourself and with a little luck you will make more than 35K a year, usually quite a bit more.

  16. #16
    Bad address email on file jherman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Leon Springs
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    496
    Beware of this poster!

    He doesn't drink and usually picks up the tab, so he hasn't been forthright to this point.

    Optician's who experience an increase in VA at the dispensing table with a customer
    could have been poled that day.

    Other than that,,, ya got me?

    Has CNN ever been accused of providing false info?

  17. #17
    Master OptiBoarder optical24/7's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Down on the Farm
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    5,809
    Quote Originally Posted by jherman View Post
    Beware of this poster!

    He doesn't drink and usually picks up the tab, so he hasn't been forthright to this point.
    Amen James! But what are you talking about him picking up the tab? Remember the last time we were with him, he got drunk on O'Doul's and stuck me with the tab! We had to carry him out of the bar, escort him to his room, change him into his SpiderMan PJ's and sing Old Cotton Fields Back Home to him until he went to sleep!!!

  18. #18
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591
    No further comment.
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  19. #19
    Doh! braheem24's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    KOCF & 89ft ASL
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    3,843
    ...and that my undrunk friend is your peers.

  20. #20
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter ak47's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Southwest US
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    567
    here's a direct quote from the article that can not possibly be true, making this story either bogus or just horrendous journalism:

    Perks of the job include below average stress and above average upward mobility and flexibility.

    MOST opticians i know are very stressed and have little to no real upward mobility

  21. #21
    Master OptiBoarder DanLiv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    700
    Quote Originally Posted by Johns View Post
    The pay is limited by the optician's abilities. These abilities are not limited to their skill set, but also their ability to position themselves in the marketplace to get the best pay possible. I know of at least 3 Optiboarders that make well over $80k, and I'm sure there are many more folks like them out there.
    Do you consider this true for people working just as dispensing opticians and not also as business owners/partners or managers? Certainly as an owner or a senior manager that pay is expected, but the pay would be more for those responsibilities than being an optician. There are always the exceptionally talented (also likely Optiboarders) who break far out of the norm, but I would be surprised and impressed to see an employer paying a full time dispensing optician without other responsibilities that kind of salary. (Though who am I kidding, we all know there is no such thing as a "dispensing optician without other responsibilities".)

    Fingers crossed though, because at least that would mean I have a lot of room to grow before I hit the ceiling!

  22. #22
    Ophthalmic Optician
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    USSA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    12,591
    Quote Originally Posted by DanLiv View Post
    Do you consider this true for people working just as dispensing opticians and not also as business owners/partners or managers?
    Exchange the word "optician", for "employee". If the employee brings value to the business, any business, and has the ability to demonstrate their abilities to other employees, they will make more than others. There is a manager at the local Burger King that makes $68k, in a market where the average fast food mgr makes $45k. I know him because I saw him start at Arby's move over to Wendy's, and now he's at BK. He turned each place around, cleaned them up, boosted profits, and got scooped up by the competition. He's not long for this market, as he will soon be a regional manager.

    As far as the pay for managers, yes, I was referring to a manager type position. I do, however, also know of opticians that don't manage that make similar incomes, but the have a low base salary, and make it up in commissions, but that's another story...
    Ophthalmic Optician, Society to Advance Opticianry

  23. #23
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Maryland
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    7
    I agree, like any profession there are several factors that affect an individual's ability to earn a competitive salary. I have seen offices that pay their opticians less than $30,000 per year while others pay over $50,000 per year despite experience or credentials. In most cases, I think it comes down to the amount of revenue that an individual brings in and how much the business owner values the optician's contributions. The numbers provided at http://www.opticiantraining.org/optician-salary/ are reasonable for those who are wanting to know what an average salary looks like across the nation, but are not necessarily representative of what an individual can earn over time in the industry. Those who are new to the field must carefully consider their unique situation and geographic location before making assumptions about what they will be paid.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Coastal Hasn't opened for trading yet today
    By Golfnorth in forum Canadian Discussion Forum
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 05-22-2013, 04:58 AM
  2. How to choose the right progressive lenght corridor
    By george dimitrov in forum Progressive Lens Discussion Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 09-15-2012, 10:32 AM
  3. I know this has been discussed before....
    By shellrob in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 05-12-2005, 12:18 PM
  4. The dumbest thing you ever posted
    By Susan Henault in forum Just Conversation
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 07-19-2003, 10:48 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •