- Salary statistics
- Contact lens optician
Contact lens optician
41 000 - 46 500 kr / month
Women earn 113% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
Salary progression Contact lens optician
What does a contact lens optician do? – Tasks and work environment
A contact lens optician specializes in examining vision and fitting contact lenses based on the patient's individual needs. Tasks include conducting eye examinations, assessing eye health, and informing and instructing patients on lens care and handling. The profession is often practiced in retail stores, optometry clinics, or within private and public healthcare. The work involves close customer contact and requires precision, responsibility, and good communication skills.
Salary development over time
Contact lens opticians have experienced a steady and clearly positive salary development over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 41,700 SEK, increasing the following year to 43 600 SEK, representing an increase of about 4.5%. Between 2023 and 2024, the salary increased further to 45 800 SEK, which is nearly a 5% rise in the last year. This trend reflects a continued high demand for professional skills, especially as more people choose contact lenses over glasses and the population ages. Salary increases are also linked to higher demands for specialist knowledge and increased awareness of eye health among the public.
Contact lens opticians have the opportunity to work both clinically and consultatively, opening doors to roles in research, product development, and education. Many choose to specialize further in areas such as pediatric optometry or advanced lens fitting, making the profession both dynamic and evolving.
Contact lens optician salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 45 800 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 41,000 SEK/month (men), 44,700 SEK/month (women)
- Highest salary: 46,500 SEK/month (both men and women)
- Hourly wage: 275 SEK
- Gender differences: Women earn 113% compared to men
- Regional differences: No specific data available
Education and qualifications
To work as a contact lens optician, a licensed optician degree with additional training in contact lens optics is required. The educational path includes both theoretical studies and extensive practical training, focusing on eye health and advanced lens fitting. Certification from the National Board of Health and Welfare requires approved studies and practical experience, often supplemented with specialized certification in contact lens optics.
- Formal degree: Optician degree (3 years) with specialization in contact lens optics
- Certification: License from the National Board of Health and Welfare and specialization in contact lens optics
- Practical training: Clinical practice during education is mandatory
- Prerequisites: Basic eligibility for university studies
- Tip: Choose a program with a strong focus on patient contact and advanced lens fitting
Common benefits and compensations
Contact lens opticians are often offered benefits such as occupational pension, wellness allowances, subsidized lenses or glasses, and opportunities for professional development. Other common compensations include bonus schemes, flexible working hours, and in some cases, extra vacation or insurance coverage.
Competition and challenges
The competition within the contact lens optician profession is moderate, but can vary significantly depending on region and employer. One of the main challenges is staying updated with rapid technological advancements in contact lenses and eye health. The profession demands high accuracy, responsibility, and the ability to handle advanced equipment. Increasing customer demands for personalized service and solutions mean that contact lens opticians must continually update their skills and adapt their working methods. The availability of job openings is also influenced by an aging population and changes in vision behavior.
Tips for aspiring contact lens opticians
To succeed as a contact lens optician, it is beneficial to have a combination of service-mindedness and technical interest. Being communicative and pedagogical facilitates instructing patients on lens care, while analytical skills are necessary for conducting precise vision tests. Attention to detail is crucial when fitting different lens types to individual needs, and flexibility is valued in a changing work environment. Engagement in continuing education and interest in new products provide competitive advantages, while patience and empathy create trust with patients with special needs. Finally, being solution-oriented and comfortable with responsibility for both technology and people is important.
Key facts about Contact Lens Opticians
- Education level: Optician degree with specialization in contact lens optics
- Work environment: Store, clinic, or optometry practice with close patient contact
- Typical employment: Privately employed
- Demand: 375 job openings within the optician profession
- Special skills: Fitting advanced contact lenses and assessing eye health
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years as a contact lens optician, opportunities exist to advance to roles such as specialist optician, supervisor, or clinic manager. Some choose to deepen their expertise in research, product development, or training new opticians. Forecasts from the Swedish Public Employment Service show that the optician workforce generally has a stable job market, although specific data for contact lens opticians is limited due to sparse information. Currently, there are 375 job openings in the field, indicating good employment prospects for those with the right education and specialization. Continued technological advances and increased awareness of eye health are expected to further strengthen the profession’s future outlook.
Frequently asked questions about Contact Lens Opticians
- What does a Contact Lens Optician earn?
- The average salary for a contact lens optician is 45 800 SEK per month. - What is the gender distribution among salaries?
- Women earn an average of 46,500 SEK while men earn 41,000 SEK, which means women earn 113% of men's salaries. - What education is required to become a contact lens optician?
- An optician degree with additional training in contact lens optics and certification from the National Board of Health and Welfare is necessary. - Are there many job openings for contact lens opticians?
- There are currently 375 job openings in Sweden within the profession. - What is the hourly wage for a contact lens optician?
- The average hourly wage is 275 SEK based on 166 working hours per month. - What are the highest and lowest salaries for contact lens opticians?
- The highest salary is 46,500 SEK per month and the lowest is 41,000 SEK per month. - What is the work environment like for a contact lens optician?
- The work environment is usually clinical or retail-based with extensive patient contact.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39900 kr | 41200 kr | |
| 35-44 | 44600 kr | 46000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 45200 kr | 46500 kr | |
| 55-64 | 0 kr | 48500 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 44700 kr | 45800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39900 kr | 41200 kr | |
| 35-44 | 44600 kr | 46000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 45200 kr | 46500 kr | |
| 55-64 | 0 kr | 48500 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 44700 kr | 45800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39900 kr | 41200 kr | |
| 35-44 | 44600 kr | 46000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 45200 kr | 46500 kr | |
| 55-64 | 0 kr | 48500 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 44700 kr | 45800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 113% | 40000 kr | 41000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 113% | 40000 kr | 41000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 113% | 40000 kr | 41000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39700 kr | 40900 kr | |
| 35-44 | 44600 kr | 46000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 44700 kr | 46100 kr | |
| 55-64 | 52900 kr | 53300 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 45400 kr | 46500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39700 kr | 40900 kr | |
| 35-44 | 44600 kr | 46000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 44700 kr | 46100 kr | |
| 55-64 | 52900 kr | 53300 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 45400 kr | 46500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39700 kr | 40900 kr | |
| 35-44 | 44600 kr | 46000 kr | |
| 45-54 | 44700 kr | 46100 kr | |
| 55-64 | 52900 kr | 53300 kr | |
| Snitt | 113% | 45400 kr | 46500 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Contact lens optician has the SSYK code 2284, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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