How to Become an Optician
Fit and dispense the eyewear optometrists prescribe, combining precision craft with patient service. It typically requires an associate degree, with a median salary of $47,260 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$47,260/yr
Middle half
$38,820 to $61,700
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
6,800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Lens Fitting
- Frame Adjustment
- Prescription Interpretation
- Customer Service
- Sales
Helpful certifications
- ABO certification
- NCLE (contact lenses)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
74/100
Stress level
57/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Optician make?
The median pay for an Optician is $47,260 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $38,820 and $61,700 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Optician?
The usual entry point is an associate degree. Common majors are Opticianry and Health Sciences.
Is Optician a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 6,800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Optician use most?
Common skills for this role are Lens Fitting, Frame Adjustment, Prescription Interpretation, Customer Service, and Sales.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).