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Opticians, Dispensing

General Information

Description

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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Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit86.55%
  2. Self-employed6.76%
  3. Private, not for profit4.49%
  4. State and local government1.26%
  5. Federal government0.94%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Health Science

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
+3%
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Job Outlook

×

Employment of opticians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 6,400 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.

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$39,610

Median Military Salary Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

$88,823

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State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$22,540
$70,790
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Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 45%
  • Associate's degree 25%
  • Post-secondary certificate 25%
  • Some college 4%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Enterprising — You have an interest in managing, negotiating and marketing, or leading and advising others.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.
  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Production and Processing
  • Mathematics
  • Education and Training

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.