Opticians, Dispensing earn a median of $47,260 per year ($22.72/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.2% through 2035, with about 5,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 29-2081
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Optician, Dispensing in four numbers
- Median pay
- $47,260a year, or $22.72/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $77K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.2%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,60074,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202574.3K
- Projected 203577.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 74.3K Projected 2035 77.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school45.8%
- Certificate25%
- Some college4.2%
- Associate's25%
Highest education held by opticians, dispensing Segment Value High school 45.8% Certificate 25% Some college 4.2% Associate's 25%
Also advertised as: Certified Optician, Contact Lens Technician, Dispensing Optician, Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO), Licensed Optician, Ophthalmic Dispenser.
Pay
How much do Opticians, Dispensing make?
Every optician, dispensing in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$47,260
Middle half earn $38,820 to $61,700
- 10th
- $35,610
- 25th
- $38,820
- 75th
- $61,700
- 90th
- $76,750
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,610 |
| 25th | $38,820 |
| Median | $47,260 |
| 75th | $61,700 |
| 90th | $76,750 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $47,260
- Median hourly wage
- $22.72/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $51,770
- People employed
- 73,530
Versus all US occupations
At $47,260, Opticians, Dispensing earn 7% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,720 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 54% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $76,750 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,610, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 16% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Connecticut pays the most at $75,300, and still leads at $72,676 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Opticians, Dispensing the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $75,300 | $72,676 | 610 |
| 2Hawaii | $75,300 | $68,485 | 110 |
| 3New Jersey | $72,460 | $66,596 | 2,010 |
| 4Massachusetts | $67,210 | $63,551 | 1,360 |
| 5New York | $63,880 | $59,191 | 3,520 |
| 6District of Columbia | $61,310 | $55,787 | 80 |
| 7Florida | $58,850 | $56,907 | 5,080 |
| 8Alaska | $58,250 | $56,908 | 90 |
| 9California | $57,990 | $52,375 | 7,840 |
| 10Vermont | $57,350 | $58,545 | 70 |
Job outlook
Is Optician, Dispensing a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Opticians, Dispensing | +4.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Opticians, Dispensing to change 4.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,600 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 74,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
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.
Getting in
How to become an Optician, Dispensing
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as opticians, dispensing.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)45.8%
- Post-Secondary Certificate25%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree25%
- Some College Courses4.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 45.8% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 25% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 25% |
| Some College Courses | 4.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Optician, Dispensing do?
Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames. Includes contact lens opticians.
Opticians fit customers for eyeglasses and contact lenses and help them select which frames and lenses to buy.
Day-to-day tasks
- Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
- Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
- Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
- Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
- Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
- Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses.
- Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
- Obtain a customer's previous record, or verify a prescription with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most opticians work full time, but part-time work is common. They may work evenings and weekends.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where opticians, dispensing work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Offices of optometrists43%
- General merchandise retailers23%
- Health and personal care retailers20%
- Offices of physicians8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Offices of optometrists | 43% |
| General merchandise retailers | 23% |
| Health and personal care retailers | 20% |
| Offices of physicians | 8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Mathematics2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Coordination3.3
- Persuasion3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Instructing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Inventory management software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Optician, Dispensing?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Optician, Dispensing |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional5.4
- Realistic4.3
- Enterprising3.3
- Social3.0
- Investigative2.3
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Optician, Dispensing
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with opticians, dispensing highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
- Optician, Dispensing$47,260
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
| Optician, Dispensing | $47,260 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Optician, Dispensing appears on
Questions
Optician, Dispensing: frequently asked questions
How much do Opticians, Dispensing make?
Opticians, Dispensing earn a median of $47,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 7% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.72/hr. The middle half earn between $38,820 and $61,700. The top 10% earn $76,750 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Optician, Dispensing?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Opticians, Dispensing. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.8% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Optician, Dispensing a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.2% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Optician, Dispensing do?
Opticians fit customers for eyeglasses and contact lenses and help them select which frames and lenses to buy. A core O*NET task: measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Opticians, Dispensing the most?
The highest state medians for Opticians, Dispensing are Connecticut ($75,300), Hawaii ($75,300), New Jersey ($72,460) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Optician, Dispensing?
O*NET scores Opticians, Dispensing highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.