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Occupational Employment Statistics


DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing



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.

Geography Click link for Career Profile EmploymentEmp SE*Percentiles
Mean10th25thMedian75th90th
Minnesota 1,490149$24.90/hr$18.25/hr$20.91/hr$23.74/hr$27.88/hr$33.36/hr


IndustryOES Employment (Statewide)OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Trade, Transportation and Utilities550$22.04/hr
Education and Health Services940$24.12/hr
Public AdministrationN/AN/A
 
Geography Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Northeast Balance of State 30$22.98/hrN/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA 30$22.53/hrN/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA 40$22.38/hrN/A
St Cloud MN MSA 50$22.35/hrN/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA 60$22.85/hrN/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA 60$22.05/hrN/A
Northeast Minnesota 70$22.85/hr7.1%
Southwest Balance of State 80$21.99/hrN/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA 80$22.27/hrN/A
Rochester MN MSA 80$23.46/hrN/A
Southeast Balance of State 90$22.72/hrN/A
Southwest Minnesota 110$21.99/hr8.2%
Northwest Balance of State 140$22.66/hrN/A
Southeast Minnesota 150$23.15/hr6.5%
Northwest Minnesota 160$22.66/hr8.1%
Central Minnesota 160$23.42/hr8.5%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 830$24.14/hr5.2%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA 930$24.14/hrN/A
Minnesota 1,490$23.74/hr5.5%


Occupations Click link for details EmploymentMedian WageProjections
% Change 2022-2032
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks 7,330$30.26/hr5.8%
Pharmacy Technicians 7,340$23.87/hr7.7%
Tellers 5,740$21.75/hr-16.3%


  • Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and goods related to eyes, in general.
  • Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
  • Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
  • Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
  • Instruct clients in how to wear and care for eyeglasses.
  • 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.
  • Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
  • Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses.
  • Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.