AI JOB RISK SCANNER
O*NET-SOC 51-9083.00 / model V11 rated-task engine

Will AI replace
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians?

Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.

Estimated AI task exposure
11%

Low exposure

V11 weights occupation tasks using O*NET Importance, Relevance and Frequency ratings instead of treating every task equally.

18 tasks have usable Task Rating records; weighted-task coverage is 100%.

Digital/info work

19/100

Physical moat

54/100

Human moat

12/100

Rating coverage

100%

18 task statements / 18 rated

Highest-weighted occupation tasks

Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
Importance 89/100Relevance 96/100Frequency 90/100Weight 0.92
Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
Importance 94/100Relevance 97/100Frequency 82/100Weight 0.92
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
Importance 94/100Relevance 92/100Frequency 87/100Weight 0.91
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Importance 90/100Relevance 94/100Frequency 89/100Weight 0.91
Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
Importance 90/100Relevance 93/100Frequency 88/100Weight 0.91
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
Importance 93/100Relevance 89/100Frequency 86/100Weight 0.90
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Importance 92/100Relevance 92/100Frequency 82/100Weight 0.90
Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
Importance 88/100Relevance 90/100Frequency 86/100Weight 0.88
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Importance 92/100Relevance 82/100Frequency 85/100Weight 0.86
Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
Importance 86/100Relevance 90/100Frequency 78/100Weight 0.85

Task weighting

Each rated task receives a composite weight: 38% relevance, 37% importance and 25% frequency. Core tasks receive a small additional multiplier. Low-precision rows flagged by O*NET for suppression are excluded.

Occupation scoring

When rating coverage is strong, rated tasks contribute 60% of the digital, physical and human task signals and Work Activities contribute 40%. Lower-coverage occupations automatically rely more on Work Activities.

U.S. labor market

BLS Wage & Employment Outlook

Median annual wage

$39,460

BLS OEWS May 2025

National employment

18,660

BLS OEWS May 2025

Projected growth

+2.2%

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

Average annual openings

2

BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035

BLS labor-market figures are separate from the site's AI-exposure model. Missing values mean a compatible detailed BLS occupation estimate was not published or could not be mapped.

Career pivot radar

Safer Career Alternatives

These options are selected from the same 923-occupation model. They favor a similar task/work profile with meaningfully lower estimated AI exposure. They are suggestions for exploration, not guarantees of job fit.

SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Pourers and Casters, Metal

5%

6 points lower exposure • 96% profile similarity

Median wage: $51,810 Growth 2025–2035: -5.0% Annual openings: 0

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Medical Appliance Technicians

5%

6 points lower exposure • 94% profile similarity

Median wage: $48,030 Growth 2025–2035: +3.5% Annual openings: 1

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Roofers

5%

6 points lower exposure • 94% profile similarity

Median wage: $55,440 Growth 2025–2035: +5.3% Annual openings: 12

stronger human/judgment moat, more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles

6%

5 points lower exposure • 97% profile similarity

Median wage: $56,460 Growth 2025–2035: +9.0% Annual openings: 2

similar work profile with lower modeled exposure
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Cooks, Fast Food

5%

6 points lower exposure • 94% profile similarity

Median wage: $30,890 Growth 2025–2035: +0.6% Annual openings: 86

more physical-world work
SAFER ALTERNATIVE

Tile and Stone Setters

6%

5 points lower exposure • 97% profile similarity

Median wage: $55,690 Growth 2025–2035: +9.8% Annual openings: 3

similar work profile with lower modeled exposure

Personalized career defense protocol

AI-Proofing Plan

AUTOMATE

    AUGMENT

    • administrative support tasks
    • planning and documentation

    PROTECT

      LEARN

      • basic AI literacy

      AI-PROOFING RESOURCES

      What this score does not mean

      The percentage is a comparative task-exposure index. It is not the probability that this occupation disappears, that a worker is laid off, or that AI can perform the entire job.

      New in V11

      Find a Safer Career Path

      High exposure does not mean starting over. V11 compares your occupation with the other 922 O*NET occupations and surfaces lower-exposure options with similar work profiles.

      EXPLORE CAREER ALTERNATIVES
      I am your guide.
      Knowledge is your strongest upgrade.