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Opticians, Dispensing in Iowa
Want to work as an Opticians, Dispensing in Iowa? Below are the key facts. 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.
What do Opticians, Dispensing Make in Iowa?
The opticians, dispensing working in Iowa, the typical annual salary is $41,810 per year (or about $20.10/hour).Pay can range from $36,140 at the 10th percentile to $50,230 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,140 | $17.37 |
| 25th percentile | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Median (50th) | $41,810 | $20.10 |
| 75th percentile | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| 90th percentile | $50,230 | $24.15 |
The job concentration index in Iowa relative to the national average — is 1.23, indicating that opticians, dispensing are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, opticians, dispensing earn a median of $127,783 per year ($61.43/hour), below the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 1,141,586 opticians, dispensing in the U.S.. In Iowa alone, about 1,000 people work in this role. That’s in line with the typical state median of 1,000.
Top Iowa Metros for Opticians, Dispensing
These are the Iowa metros with the most opticians, dispensing in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 250 | $45,530 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 100 | $45,220 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 90 | $40,250 |
| Dubuque, IA | 50 | $41,600 |
| Iowa City, IA | 50 | $44,830 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 50 | $39,420 |
| Ames, IA | 40 | $39,420 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 30 | $39,730 |
Top States for Opticians, Dispensing Employment
View the states that employ the most opticians, dispensing work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 8,180 |
| Texas | 7,100 |
| New York | 5,180 |
| Florida | 5,030 |
| Illinois | 3,660 |
| Michigan | 3,220 |
| Ohio | 3,190 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,750 |
| Georgia | 2,580 |
| Virginia | 2,500 |
| New Jersey | 2,260 |
| Washington | 2,000 |
| Indiana | 1,900 |
| North Carolina | 1,890 |
| Arizona | 1,670 |
| Tennessee | 1,640 |
| Minnesota | 1,630 |
| Missouri | 1,610 |
| Wisconsin | 1,530 |
| Colorado | 1,510 |
Highest-Paying States for Opticians, Dispensing
Where opticians, dispensing earn the most: opticians, dispensing.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $66,250 |
| Connecticut | $64,780 |
| Massachusetts | $63,810 |
| New York | $60,100 |
| District of Columbia | $59,110 |
| California | $57,770 |
| Vermont | $57,500 |
| Florida | $56,920 |
| Alaska | $56,260 |
| Hawaii | $56,090 |
Skills
Top opticians, dispensing skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for opticians, dispensing, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
- Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
- Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
- Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
- Obtain a customer's previous record, or verify a prescription with the examining optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- Sell goods such as contact lenses, spectacles, sunglasses, and goods related to eyes, in general.
Work Activities
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Selling or Influencing Others
- Getting Information
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Working with Computers
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Performing Administrative Activities
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
Related Careers
Other careers like opticians, dispensing include:
- Optometrists
- Pharmacists
- Audiologists
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Pharmacy Technicians
Also Known As
Certified Optician, Contact Lens Fitter, Contact Lens Technician, Dispensing Optician, Dispensing and Measuring Optician, Eyecare Advisor, Eyeglass Fitter, Eyewear Specialist, Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO), Licensed Optical Dispenser, Licensed Optician, Ophthalmic Dispenser, Optical Dispenser, Optical Sales Associate, Optical Technician.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-2081.00
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