- Salary statistics
- Optician's assistant
Optician's assistant
33 936 - 32 693 kr / month
Försäljning & inköp
Salary progression Optician's assistant
What does an optician assistant do? – Tasks and work environment
An optician assistant mainly works with customer service and sales in optical stores. Tasks may include helping customers choose glasses or contact lenses, booking appointments, handling simple repairs, and managing administrative duties such as cash register and stock. Sometimes, preparing for eye examinations or performing pre-tests before visits to licensed optometrists is also included. The work environment features close contact with customers and a varying pace, where both service skills and accuracy are essential for success in the role.
Salary development over time
The salary for optician assistants has shown a clear upward trend in recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 28,200 SEK per month, increasing to 30 100 SEK in 2023. The latest data for 2024 indicates a further increase to 32 693 SEK per month. This represents a total salary increase of about 16% over three years, which is relatively strong compared to many other similar professions. This development can partly be explained by increased demand for service staff in the optical industry and a greater focus on customer experience in stores. The industry’s need for experienced personnel and increased competition for labor has likely also contributed to positive salary growth.
Optician assistant salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 32 693 SEK/month
- Lowest/Highest salary: Data unavailable
- Hourly wage: 196 SEK/hour (based on 166 hours/month)
- Gender differences: Data unavailable
- Regional differences: Data unavailable
Education and qualifications
No formal university education is required to work as an optician assistant, but employers often prefer high school education in commerce, service, or similar fields. Practical experience in retail, especially within optics or health, is advantageous. Many employers offer internal training, and there are also short courses organized by the optical industry associations that can provide in-depth knowledge about product ranges and customer handling.
- High school education: Recommended programs include Business and Administration
- Internal training: Common among larger chains
- Courses/certifications: Available through industry organizations
- Internship: Provides an advantage during employment
- Prerequisites: Service orientation and interest in optics
Many optician assistants get the opportunity to work with a wide range of modern technical tools and instruments. This provides a chance to quickly develop practical skills within the optical industry, which can be a pathway to more qualified roles in the future.
Common benefits and compensations
Optician assistants are often offered benefits such as staff discounts on glasses and contact lenses, wellness allowances, and sometimes bonuses linked to sales. Other common compensations include evening and weekend work supplements and pension contributions. Some employers also provide internal training and opportunities for professional development within the optical industry.
Competition and challenges
The market for optician assistants can be competitive, especially in larger cities where many seek employment in health and retail sectors. At the same time, a stable number of job openings is reported, creating good opportunities for those with the right experience and service skills. A challenge for the profession is to keep up with technological developments and constantly update knowledge about new products and aids. Additionally, high demands are placed on accuracy and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, which can be challenging during busy periods with high customer volume.
Tips for those who want to become an optician assistant
To succeed as an optician assistant, it is beneficial to have a genuine interest in service and enjoy meeting people. Good communication skills facilitate guiding customers regarding different products or solutions. Being precise and stress-resistant is valuable, especially during periods of high activity and varied tasks. It is also important to be curious and willing to learn about new technical aids and trends in the optical industry. Flexibility and teamwork skills contribute to a positive work environment. Those who are proactive and responsible often have greater opportunities for development and more qualified tasks over time.
Key facts about optician assistants
- Education level: High school education recommended
- Work environment: Store environment with extensive customer contact
- Number of job openings: About 550 in the profession
- Occupational group: Optical assistants
- Common working modes: Full-time, part-time, and hourly employment
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years as an optician assistant, there are opportunities to advance to roles such as store manager, team leader, or specialist in optical product sales. Some also choose to further qualify as licensed optometrists. Forecasts from the Employment Service show no specific assessment for the profession due to limited data, but the entire occupational group of optical assistants has a stable job market with approximately 550 registered job openings. The technological development in the optical industry and increased demand for qualified service staff indicate good future prospects, especially for those willing to develop their skills and take on greater responsibility in the store environment.
Frequently asked questions about optician assistants
- What does an optician assistant earn?
- The average salary for an optician assistant is 32 693 SEK per month. - Is education required to become an optician assistant?
- High school education in commerce or service is common, but many employers offer internal training. - Are there good job opportunities for optician assistants?
- Yes, there are approximately 550 job openings within the profession according to the latest figures. - What are the duties of an optician assistant?
- Tasks include customer service, sales, simple repairs, and administrative duties. - Can I further train to become an optometrist?
- Yes, it is possible to further qualify as a licensed optometrist after a few years in the profession. - What is the typical hourly wage for an optician assistant?
- The hourly wage averages 196 SEK. - Are there regional differences in salary?
- There is insufficient data on regional salary differences for optician assistants.
Salary distributed by age and sector
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 Optician's assistant has the SSYK code 5224, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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