Opticians, Dispensing: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Opticians, Dispensing Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of opticians, dispensing span:
- 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.
- Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
- 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.
- Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.
- Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
- Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top opticians, dispensing rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Opticians, Dispensing Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Certified Optician
- Contact Lens Fitter
- Contact Lens Technician
- Dispensing Optician
- Dispensing and Measuring Optician
- Eyecare Advisor
- Eyeglass Fitter
- Eyewear Specialist
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 1,141,586 opticians, dispensing working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Opticians, Dispensing Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $127,783 |
| Hourly median | $61.43 |
| 10th percentile | $89,727 |
| 25th percentile | $108,755 |
| 75th percentile | $146,811 |
| 90th percentile | $165,839 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $66,250 |
| Connecticut | $64,780 |
| Massachusetts | $63,810 |
| New York | $60,100 |
| District of Columbia | $59,110 |
| California | $57,770 |
| Vermont | $57,500 |
| Florida | $56,920 |
| Alaska | $56,260 |
| Hawaii | $56,090 |
| Virginia | $54,320 |
| Rhode Island | $50,380 |
| North Carolina | $49,570 |
| Oregon | $49,550 |
| New Hampshire | $49,400 |
| Minnesota | $49,020 |
| Washington | $48,320 |
| Ohio | $48,080 |
| Tennessee | $47,850 |
| Maryland | $47,710 |
| Nevada | $47,600 |
| South Carolina | $46,830 |
| Arizona | $46,520 |
| Maine | $46,310 |
| Colorado | $45,900 |
| Georgia | $45,640 |
| Arkansas | $45,440 |
| Montana | $44,600 |
| Kentucky | $44,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,010 |
| Wisconsin | $43,320 |
| Iowa | $41,810 |
| North Dakota | $41,400 |
| Illinois | $41,230 |
| South Dakota | $41,020 |
| Delaware | $40,400 |
| Michigan | $39,870 |
| Utah | $39,760 |
| Idaho | $39,670 |
| Nebraska | $38,850 |
| West Virginia | $38,480 |
| Kansas | $37,890 |
| Wyoming | $37,870 |
| Indiana | $37,740 |
| Missouri | $36,960 |
| New Mexico | $36,910 |
| Texas | $36,400 |
| Oklahoma | $36,150 |
| Alabama | $35,570 |
| Mississippi | $35,530 |
| Louisiana | $34,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,690 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for opticians, dispensing differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $58,670 | 3.9% | 0.89 |
| Middle Atlantic | $55,790 | 14.5% | 0.98 |
| Far Western US | $54,459 | 16.0% | 1.03 |
| Southeast | $48,922 | 23.4% | 0.97 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,985 | 4.0% | 1.03 |
| Great Lakes | $42,269 | 16.7% | 1.20 |
| Plains States | $41,550 | 8.0% | 1.18 |
| Southwest | $38,121 | 12.2% | 0.97 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $72,750 | 140 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $68,790 | 60 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $66,880 | 60 |
| New Haven, CT | CT | $64,990 | 80 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $64,940 | 70 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | FL | $64,710 | 70 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $64,580 | 210 |
| Worcester, MA | MA | $64,520 | 190 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of opticians, dispensing are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 43,300 | $45,580 |
| Retail Trade | 35,080 | $48,470 |
| Wholesale Trade | 420 | $52,190 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 310 | n/a |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 120 | $45,140 |
| Manufacturing | 40 | $48,240 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of opticians, dispensing is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Education and Training
Typical opticians, dispensing positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Optometrists (Primary-Short)
- Pharmacists (Supplemental)
- Audiologists (Supplemental)
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Pharmacy Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Surgical Technologists (Supplemental)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future opticians, dispensing often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-2081.00 (Opticians, Dispensing).
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