Rankings β†’ Will AI Replace…

Will AI Replace Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians?

58/100 β€” Elevated
SOC 51-9083

πŸ’‘ Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians have a composite risk score of 58/100 (Frey-Osborne probability: 97%, GenAI exposure: 10/100). With 18,740 workers in the US, this occupation faces moderate but manageable AI pressure. Full occupation profile β†’

🎯 The Verdict

Possible. Significant task automation is underway β€” workers should actively upskill.

With 18,740 workers and a median wage of $38K,ophthalmic laboratory technicians represent a significant portion of the US workforce. Their GenAI exposure index is 10%, meaning a minority of their core tasks overlap with current generative AI capabilities.

Risk Score

58/100

Employment

18,740

Median Wage

$38K

GenAI Exposure

10%

⚠️ Top Risk Factors

1.

Industrial robotics replacing manual assembly tasks

2.

AI quality inspection via computer vision systems

3.

Cobots handling repetitive material handling tasks

4.

Automated CNC programming and machine operation

πŸ›‘οΈ Tasks AI Can't Easily Replace

βœ“

Handling non-standard materials and configurations

βœ“

Setup and calibration of custom production runs

βœ“

Coordinating workflow across diverse production teams

βœ“

Troubleshooting complex equipment malfunctions

πŸ”„ Career Transition Paths

Related occupations with lower AI risk and high skills overlap:

Engineers

61% skills overlap Β· $106K median wage

20/100

First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

51% skills overlap Β· $62K median wage

25/100

Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

80% skills overlap Β· $68K median wage

33/100

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will AI completely replace ophthalmic laboratory technicians?

Possible. Significant task automation is underway β€” workers should actively upskill.

What is the AI risk score for ophthalmic laboratory technicians?

Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians have a composite AI automation risk score of 58 out of 100, classified as "Elevated".

How many ophthalmic laboratory technicians are there in the US?

There are approximately 18,740 ophthalmic laboratory technicians employed in the United States.

What do ophthalmic laboratory technicians earn?

The median annual wage for ophthalmic laboratory technicians is $38K.

What skills should ophthalmic laboratory technicians develop?

Focus on tasks AI can't easily replicate: handling non-standard materials and configurations, setup and calibration of custom production runs, coordinating workflow across diverse production teams, troubleshooting complex equipment malfunctions. These human-centric skills will become more valuable as routine tasks are automated.