Opticians, Dispensing
SOC code 29-2081 · O*NET-SOC 29-2081.00 · Medium preparation needed · Healthcare
Opticians, Dispensing pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$47,260
a year
Hourly
$22.72
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$51,770
$24.89 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,820 – $61,700
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$35,610 – $76,750
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
73,530
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $35,610
- $17.12/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,820
- $18.66/hr
- Median percentile
- $47,260
- $22.72/hr
- 75th percentile
- $61,700
- $29.66/hr
- 90th percentile
- $76,750
- $36.90/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
79,900
jobs in 2024
82,200
projected for 2034
About 2,300 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do opticians, 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 46% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)46%
- Post-Secondary Certificate25%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree25%
- Some College Courses4%
Common questions
How much does an opticians, dispensing earn?
The national median is $47,260 a year. The full range runs from $35,610 at the 10th percentile to $76,750 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an opticians, dispensing without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is opticians, dispensing in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.5/5
- Writing3.3/5
- Active Learning3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.9/5
- Sales and Marketing4.3/5
- Mathematics3.9/5
- Production and Processing3.8/5
- Administrative3.8/5
- English Language3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.5/5
- Education and Training3.4/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion.