Summary
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Quick Facts: Opticians | |
---|---|
$39,610 per year
$19.04 per hour |
|
High school diploma or equivalent | |
None | |
Long-term on-the-job training | |
73,300 | |
3% (As fast as average) | |
2,000 |
What Opticians Do
Opticians help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists.
Work Environment
About half of opticians work in offices of optometrists or offices of physicians. Other opticians worked in stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids, and other optical goods. These stores may be stand-alone businesses or parts of larger retail establishments, such as department stores.
How to Become an Optician
Opticians typically have a high school diploma or equivalent and some form of on-the-job training. Some opticians enter the occupation with an associate’s degree or a certificate from a community college or technical school. About half of the states require opticians to be licensed.
Pay
The median annual wage for opticians was $39,610 in May 2022.
Job Outlook
Employment of opticians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 6,400 openings for opticians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for opticians.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of opticians with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about opticians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.