Will “Line Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

97% Chance of Automation

“Line Operator” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #656 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

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.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9083.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 34,220.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 16.00
Currently, there are 28,570 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Line Operator”

Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.

Related Technology & Tools

Flathead screwdrivers
Soldering torches
Lab snips
Ball cutters
Wheel cutters
Nut wrenches
Lens polishing machines
Screw extracting pliers
Optical prisms
3-way screwdrivers
Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
Ultrasonic cleaners
Sagitta gauges
Nylon-brass mallets
Specular microscopes
Frame adjusting pliers
Lens groovers
Exophthalometers
Mini screwdrivers
Pupilometers
Keratometers
Drill presses
Corneal topographers
Pachymeters
Rimless assembly measuring tools
Lens cutting machines
Pad removing tweezers
Prescription lens aligners
Soldering irons
Self-closing tweezers
Optical tweezers
Soldering clamps
Flat nose pliers
Electric soldering kits
Zylonite files
Diagnostic retinoscopes
Snipe nose pliers
Side cutting pliers
Hex nut wrenches
Retinal cameras
Rimless scribe tools
Deblocking pliers
Riveting hammers
Trial lens sets
Bench polishers
Lensometers
Mini power drills
Lens tinting equipment
Angling pliers
Spectrophotometers
Phoropters
Optical chain nose pliers
Argon lasers
Stereopsis testers
Screw grippers
Lens sizing pliers
pH testers
Bent post pliers
Phillips screwdrivers
Lens coating machines
Lens grinding machines
Cutting pliers
Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
Lens thickness calipers
Chipping pliers
Potential acuity meters PAM
Finger-piece pliers
Pupillary distance rulers
Optical slit lamps
Tapered eyewire closure pliers
Frame shaping pliers
Visual field testers
Handheld tonometers
Edge polishers

Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook
Eyeglass design software
Electronic medical record EMR software
Microsoft Word