Opticians, Dispensing
What 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.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not available
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- 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.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 4.9/5
- Sales and Marketingimportance 4.3/5
- Mathematicsimportance 3.9/5
- Production and Processingimportance 3.8/5
- Administrativeimportance 3.8/5
- English Languageimportance 3.7/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.5/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 3.4/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Telephone Conversations5.0/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams5.0/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.8/5
- Contact With Others4.8/5
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General4.8/5
- E-Mail4.8/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Cargo and Freight Agents95% skill match
- Occupational Therapy Aides95% skill match
- Flight Attendants95% skill match
- Skincare Specialists94% skill match
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses94% skill match
- Registered Nurses94% skill match
- Public Safety Telecommunicators94% skill match
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric94% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Service Orientationimportance 3.5/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.3/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.3/5
- Persuasionimportance 3.3/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
- Time Managementimportance 3.0/5
- Instructingimportance 2.9/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Other Software Used
- Compulink Eyecare Advantage
- Cygnet Infotech Optifocus
- Database software
- Diversified Ophthalmics Practice Maximus
- EMRlogic Systems ENTERPRISE Visions
- EZ-Zone Optizone Enterprise
- First Insight MaximEyes
- HealthLine Systems Eyecom
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Empathy
- Sincerity
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- ConventionalHigh
- RealisticMedium
- EnterprisingMedium
- SocialMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- ArtisticLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where opticians, dispensing make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Arecibo, PR3.72× national avg
- 2Grand Island, NE3.38× national avg
- 3San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR3.22× national avg
- 4Dothan, AL3.11× national avg
- 5Ponce, PR2.97× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Medical AssistantsCareer Change
- Skincare SpecialistsCareer Change
- Physical Therapist AssistantsCareer Change
- Transit and Railroad PoliceCareer Change
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist
- College of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV)
- American Career College-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)grads earn ~$41,561
- Hillsborough College (Tampa, FL)grads earn ~$57,215
- Metro Technology Centers (Oklahoma City, OK)
- American Career College-Ontario (Ontario, CA)grads earn ~$37,742