"How long does optician in Alaska training take?"

"Most paths into the optician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do opticians need a license in Alaska?"

"Yes. Alaska requires state-level licensing or registration for opticians, administered by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community \u0026 Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for opticians in Alaska?"

"In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become An Optician in Alaska

Q: "How much do opticians earn in Alaska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,250. Employment concentration in Alaska is roughly 0.59 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for opticians in Alaska?"

"Alaska currently employs approximately 90 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $58,250 ($28.01/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 90 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 23.3% above the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,250 ($28.01/hr)
25th percentile: $40,450 per year
75th percentile: $74,880 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,760 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,940 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 90
Versus national median: 23.3% above the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.59 - this occupation is less concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alaska employs approximately 90 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,250 ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 6,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an optician in Alaska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in Alaska

How to become an optician in Alaska? Alaska requires credentials such as Optician. The licensing authority is the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alaska? Yes. Alaska has licensing or registration requirements for opticians. The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do opticians earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for opticians in Alaska is $58,250 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,940 and experienced professionals can earn $75,760 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians
Median wage (Alaska): $58,250 per year ¹

Optician License Requirements in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians oversees optician licensing in Alaska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Optician	Application $50 License $275

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), opticians, dispensing wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	60	$59,940	$58,300	$38,940	$75,300
La Crosse-Onalaska	60	$44,620	$45,660	$37,090	$60,580

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Top Metros for Opticians in Alaska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest optician employment within Alaska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Anchorage	60	$59,940

Explore More Trades in Alaska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 90 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Alaska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Alaska.

How much do opticians earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Alaska is $58,250, which is $11,690 above the national median of $46,560 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Dispensing Opticians - Licensing Information: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/DispensingOpticians.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)