Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Working effectively with people by building relationships, understanding others, and responding appropriately.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an Optician Opticians learn to adjust eyeglass frames during
Education
and Training Opticians typically need at least a high school diploma to enter the occupation. High school students interested in becoming an optician should take classes in math and sciences. Some opticians complete a postsecondary education program at a community college or technical school. These programs award a 2-year associate’s degree or a 1-year certificate. Education programs typically include both classroom instruction and clinical experience. Coursework includes topics such as optics, eye physiology, and lens dispensing. Clinical work, which is supervised by an optician, provides students with hands-on experience assisting customers. Opticians who do not complete a postsecondary education program may enter the occupation through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. Under the supervision of an experienced optician, apprentices and trainees learn skills such as measuring the distance between a customer’s pupils and adjusting frames.
Training
. Opticians typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and receive on-the-job training. Some states require opticians to be licensed, which may include completing an associate’s degree or a certificate in ophthalmic dispensing or a related field.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some states require opticians to be licensed. In addition to passing one or more exams, licensure usually requires completing an approved educational program or completing an apprenticeship or other supervised work experience. For more information, contact the opticianry licensing board in your state. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Employers may require or prefer to hire candidates who have certification in eyeglass dispensing and contact lens dispensing. Both specialties require passing a separate examination. Many state licensing boards require a passing score on qualifying exams for licensure. Other states require opticians to pass state-specific examinations. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Maintaining certification requires completing a specified number of continuing education credits. Some states require continuing education to maintain licensure.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of opticians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 5,600 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. Employment Greater demand for eye-care services is expected because of growth in the number of older people, who usually have more eye problems than younger people. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases also may increase demand for opticianry services because some diseases, such as diabetes, cause vision problems. In addition, opticians will be needed to fill prescriptions for corrective eyewear for people who have eye refraction problems such as myopia and astigmatism. However, growing consumer interest in purchasing eyewear online may temper employment demand somewhat. Opticians Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Health technologists and technicians 7% Opticians, dispensing 4% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Opticians Do
Opticians fit customers for eyeglasses and contact lenses and help them select which frames and lenses to buy.
Duties
Opticians typically do the following:
- Receive customers’ prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses
- Measure customers’ eyes and faces, such as the distance between their pupils
- Help customers choose eyeglass frames and lens treatments that best fit their vision needs and lifestyle
- Create work orders for the optical laboratory
- Adjust, repair, and replace eyewear
- Assist customers with inserting and removing contact lenses
- Educate customers about caring for eyewear
Opticians review prescriptions that customers receive from optometrists and ophthalmologists. These prescriptions have information about the eyeglasses and contact lenses customers need. Opticians also help customers select eyewear based on the customer’s prescription, lifestyle, and other factors.
The optician measures the customer’s face and head using a variety of computerized or manual tools, such as a pupillary distance ruler, to ensure the eyewear will fit properly. After finalizing a customer’s selections, the optician creates a work order for an ophthalmic laboratory technician. Work orders provide specifications on how lenses need to be cut and fabricated. Some opticians cut lenses and insert the lenses into frames themselves.
Opticians also assist customers with details related to the finished product, such as adjusting eyeglasses for precise fit and ensuring proper insertion or removal of contact lenses. Other duties may include setting up, organizing, and cleaning product displays.
In addition, opticians often have administrative tasks, such as maintaining sales records, interpreting customers’ prescriptions, preparing invoices, and ordering and maintaining inventory.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Opticians held about 74,300 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of opticians were as follows:
| Offices of optometrists | 43% |
| General merchandise retailers | 23 |
| Health and personal care retailers | 20 |
| Offices of physicians | 8 |
Many opticians work in office settings, such as those of optometrists and ophthalmologists. Others work in retail stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids, and related optical goods. These retail stores may be independent businesses or parts of larger retail establishments, such as department stores.
Work Schedules
Most opticians work full time, but part-time work is common. They may work evenings and weekends.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Business skills. Opticians may be responsible for operating an optical store. They should have some knowledge of sales and inventory management. Communication skills. Opticians must be able to clearly explain options for frames and lenses. They also need to provide instruction about caring for eyewear in ways that customers understand. Customer-service skills. Opticians must be knowledgeable about the products they sell. When interacting with customers, they should be friendly, patient, and helpful. Decision-making skills. Opticians must decide which materials and designs are most appropriate for each customer’s preferences and lifestyle. They also determine what adjustments, if any, need to be made to eyeglasses and lenses. Detail oriented. Opticians must be precise when taking customers’ measurements and recording lens type, product number, and other information for work orders. They also must maintain customer files in an orderly manner. Dexterity. Opticians frequently use special tools, such as pliers and pupilometers, to adjust and repair eyeglasses. They must have good hand-eye coordination to work accurately.
More Information
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.
Take the Next Step
Explore Training Options
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.