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Alabama Department of Labor

Labor Market Information Division
SOC: 29-2081 Opticians, Dispensing
Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. 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. Include contact lens opticians.
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Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
OJT: 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.
Tasks: Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements. Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs. Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications. Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices. Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and other goods related to eyes in general. Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions. Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands. Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses. Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses. Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments. Fabricate lenses to meet prescription specifications. Instruct clients in how to wear and care for eyeglasses.
License: License not required.
Outlook: Very Good
Alabama Employment Outlook
Alabama Wage Data
Hourly Wage   Annual Wage
Entry $10.25   Entry $21,322.00
Mean $14.92   Mean $31,038.00
Experience $17.26 Experience $35,891.00

The data is based on the May 2017 Occupation Employment Survey employment and wage estimate file. The wages have been aged using the most current ECI factors reflecting wages as of June 2018.

Alabama Projections
Estimated Employment 2016Projected Employment 2026Annual Average OpeningsAnnual Growth Rate
1,2601,4101101.13
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Occupational Videos
29-2081.00 Opticians, Dispensing