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
Opticians typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and receive on-the-job training. Some opticians enter the occupation with an associate’s degree or a certificate in ophthalmic dispensing or a related field. Some states require opticians to be licensed. PayThe median annual wage for opticians was $47,260 in May 2025. 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. 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.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
The median annual wage for opticians was $47,260 in May 2025. 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. 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.
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. 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.
What They Do
Opticians fit customers for eyeglasses and contact lenses and help them select which frames and lenses to buy.
Work Environment
Opticians work in a variety of settings. Some work in offices of optometrists or ophthalmologists. Others work in stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids, and other optical goods.
How to Become an Optician
Opticians typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and receive on-the-job training. Some opticians enter the occupation with an associate’s degree or a certificate in ophthalmic dispensing or a related field. Some states require opticians to be licensed.
Pay
The median annual wage for opticians was $47,260 in May 2025.
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.
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.
Work Environment
Opticians work in a variety of settings. Some work in offices of optometrists or ophthalmologists. Others work in stores that sell eyeglasses, contact lenses, visual aids, and other optical goods.
How to Become an Optician
Opticians typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent and receive on-the-job training. Some opticians enter the occupation with an associate’s degree or a certificate in ophthalmic dispensing or a related field. Some states require opticians to be licensed.
Pay
The median annual wage for opticians was $47,260 in May 2025.
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.
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.
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.
More Information
Learn more about opticians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
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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.