How Much Do Opticians Make in a Year?
An optician fits glasses or contact lenses for customers who received a prescription from a optometrist or ophthalmologist (eye doctor). After glasses or lenses are fitted, the optician prepares the customer's selection for the ophthalmic laboratory. Opticians also repair glasses or reshape frames to ensure a proper fit for customers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported mean yearly salaries based on 60,840 individuals working in this occupation in 2009.
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Qualifications
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Qualifications vary by state for opticians, but many receive training or an associate's degree. An associate's degree from a community college accredited by the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation may increase employment opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 22 states require a license to practice as a dispensing optician, which typically requires passing a state-administered written and practical exam.
National Estimates
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Opticians are paid an hourly wage or yearly salary, depending on the employer. The average yearly salary of a optician ranged from $26,070 to $41,660. The median salary was $32,740. The 10th percentile earned $21,120 and the 90th percentile earned $50,560.
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Employers
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Opticians can work in a variety of industries including health practitioner offices, physician offices, as well as retail stores such as personal care, general merchandise and department stores. The highest concentration of workers were reported in offices of other health practitioners, where opticians earned an annual mean salary of $32,050. Other industries with a high concentration of opticians include health and personal care stores, where they earned an annual mean salary of $36,190, and offices of physicians, where they earned an annual mean salary of $36,430.
Geography
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Salary can vary for opticians based on the cost of living in specific metropolitan areas, as well as the number of job opening and employers in the region. The highest concentration of workers were reported in Ames, Iowa, where opticians earned an annual mean salary of $26,260. The top paying metropolitan area was the Nassau-Suffolk, New York metropolitan division, where opticians earned an annual mean salary of $60,420.
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References
- Photo Credit spectacles image by martini from Fotolia.com
