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Opticians, Dispensing in Wisconsin

Considering working as an Opticians, Dispensing in Wisconsin? Here’s what the data says. 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 Wisconsin?

For opticians, dispensing working in Wisconsin, the median annual wage is $43,320 per year (or roughly $20.83/hour).Annual wages span from $35,600 at the 10th percentile to $58,750 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$35,600	$17.12
25th percentile	$37,020	$17.80
Median (50th)	$43,320	$20.83
75th percentile	$49,160	$23.64
90th percentile	$58,750	$28.24

The job concentration index in Wisconsin nationwide is 1.02.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, opticians, dispensing earn a median of $127,783 per year ($61.43/hour), below the Wisconsin median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 1,141,586 opticians, dispensing across the United States. In Wisconsin alone, around 1,530 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 1,000 opticians, dispensing.

Top Wisconsin Metros for Opticians, Dispensing

The largest metro-area employers of opticians, dispensing in Wisconsin.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	370	$44,070
Madison, WI	190	$46,010
Green Bay, WI	100	$43,820
Appleton, WI	70	$38,820
Eau Claire, WI	70	$43,680
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	60	$43,430
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	60	$38,590
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	50	$45,440
Janesville-Beloit, WI	40	$37,580
Kenosha, WI	40	$45,180
Sheboygan, WI	40	$45,700
Wausau, WI	40	$43,670

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

Key opticians, dispensing skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most 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?

Related college programs include:

• Optometric Support Services

Related Careers

Careers similar to 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