"How long does optician in District of Columbia 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."

"What apprenticeships are available for opticians in District of Columbia?"

"In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, 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 District of Columbia

Q: "How much do opticians earn in District of Columbia?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,310. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.24 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 District of Columbia?"

"District of Columbia currently employs approximately 80 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

District of Columbia opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $61,310 ($29.48/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 80 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 29.7% above the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,310 ($29.48/hr)
25th percentile: $48,040 per year
75th percentile: $65,680 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $86,110 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,190 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 80
Versus national median: 29.7% above the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.24 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

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

District of Columbia employs approximately 80 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,310 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 District of Columbia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in District of Columbia

How to become an optician in District of Columbia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for opticians in District of Columbia.

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.

What do opticians earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for opticians in District of Columbia is $61,310 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,190 and experienced professionals can earn $86,110 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (District of Columbia): $61,310 per year ¹

Optician Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	1,080	$59,520	$57,120	$37,100	$78,010

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 District of Columbia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	1,080	$59,520

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 80 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do opticians earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in District of Columbia is $61,310, which is $14,750 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)