Dispensing Opticians

Employers

Approximately 77,300 dispensing opticians are employed in the United States. About 41 percent work in offices of optometrists and physicians, 24 percent are employed in health and personal care stores (including optical goods stores), and 21 percent work at general merchandise retailers. In 2023, there were 44,850 brick-and-mortar optical retail locations in the United States, according to The Vision Council.

Starting Out

Since the usual ways of entering the field are either through completion of an apprenticeship program or two-year associate's degree, students can use the services of their school's career services office or they can apply directly to optical stores.