Optical instrument assembler
Also known as: optical assembly technician, optical equipment fabricator, optical instrument assembly practitioner, fabricator of optical instruments, fabricator of optical equipment, optical equipment technician
About this occupation
Optical instrument assemblers read blueprints and assembly drawings to assemble lenses and optical instruments, such as microscopes, telescopes, projection equipment, and medical diagnostic equipment. They process, grind, polish, and coat glass materials, centre lenses according to the optical axis, and cement them to the optical frame. They may test the instruments after assembly.
Essential skills and knowledge
- manipulate glass
- apply optical coating
- operate precision measuring equipment
- smooth glass surface
- optical glass characteristics
- optical manufacturing process
- centre lenses
- operate optical equipment
- remove defective products
- use precision tools
- types of optical instruments
- read assembly drawings
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters (O*NET 51-2061.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Assemble and install components of timepieces to complete mechanisms, using watchmakers' tools and loupes.
- Observe operation of timepiece parts and subassemblies to determine accuracy of movement, and to diagnose causes of defects.
- Test operation and fit of timepiece parts and subassemblies, using electronic testing equipment, tweezers, watchmakers' tools, and loupes.
- Replace specified parts to repair malfunctioning timepieces, using watchmakers' tools, loupes, and holding fixtures.
- Disassemble timepieces such as watches, clocks, and chronometers so that repairs can be made.
- Clean and lubricate timepiece parts and assemblies, using solvents, buff sticks, and oil.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Repairing, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$62,620 a year (2025), 250 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Watch and Clock Repairers
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.