"How long does it take to become an optician in Connecticut?"

"The primary Connecticut license requires approximately 8,000 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 4.0 years of full-time work."

"Do opticians need a license in Connecticut?"

"Yes. Connecticut requires state-level licensing or registration for opticians, administered by the Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing \u0026 Investigations Section. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for opticians in Connecticut?"

"In Connecticut, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Connecticut Office of Apprenticeship Training, 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 Connecticut

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Connecticut earned a median annual wage of approximately $75,300. Employment concentration in Connecticut is roughly 0.76 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 Connecticut?"

"Connecticut currently employs approximately 610 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

Connecticut opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $75,300 ($36.20/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 610 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 59.3% above the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $75,300 ($36.20/hr)
25th percentile: $56,010 per year
75th percentile: $81,300 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $85,070 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,700 per year
Workers employed in Connecticut: 610
Versus national median: 59.3% above the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in Connecticut than the national average

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

Connecticut employs approximately 610 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $75,300 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 Connecticut, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in Connecticut

How do I become an optician in Connecticut? Connecticut requires credentials such as Optician, Optician Apprentice. The licensing authority is the Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 8,000 hours of experience (roughly 4.0 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Connecticut? Yes. Connecticut has licensing or registration requirements for opticians. The Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do opticians earn in Connecticut? The median annual wage for opticians in Connecticut is $75,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,700 and experienced professionals can earn $85,070 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: Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section
Median wage (Connecticut): $75,300 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Both state and third-party exams required

Optician License Requirements in Connecticut

The Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section oversees optician licensing in Connecticut ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Optician	Optician Licensing Requirements An applicant for licensure must meet the eligibility requirements outlined below: Hold an associates degree in ophthalmic dispensing approved by the Connecticut Board o…
Optician Apprentice	Apprentice Permits In order to be eligible to sit for the Connecticut optician licensing examination, an applicant is required to complete at least 4 years and 8,000 hours of apprenticeship training u…

Additional Requirements

Exam: Both state and third-party exams required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Connecticut

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Connecticut

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), opticians, dispensing wages in Connecticut vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford	220	$71,440	$66,330	$44,530	$84,190
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	130	$78,600	$74,410	$52,030	$90,350
New Haven	100	$72,410	$68,050	$50,000	$85,070
Waterbury-Shelton	70	$76,820	$70,540	$48,700	$85,070
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	60	$76,170	$72,040	$49,070	$85,060

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 2025.

Top Metros for Opticians in Connecticut

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford	220	$71,440
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	130	$78,600
New Haven	100	$72,410
Waterbury-Shelton	70	$76,820
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	60	$76,170

Explore More Trades in Connecticut

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Connecticut? Connecticut currently employs approximately 610 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Connecticut with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do opticians earn in Connecticut compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Connecticut is $75,300, which is $28,740 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Public Health - Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section - Licensing Information: https://www.dph.state.ct.us/licensure/licensure.htm ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)