How to Become an Optician in Indiana (2026)

Q: How long does optician training take in Indiana?

Most people become an Optician in Indiana through an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade.

Q: How much do opticians earn in Indiana?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Indiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,370. Employment concentration in Indiana is about 1.33 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for opticians in Indiana?

Indiana currently employs approximately 2,010 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

Indiana opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $39,370 ($18.93/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,010 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.7% below the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,370 ($18.93/hr)
25th percentile: $36,750 per year
75th percentile: $45,000 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $49,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,930 per year
Workers employed in Indiana: 2,010
Versus national median: -16.7% below the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.33 - this occupation is more concentrated in Indiana than the national average

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

Indiana employs about 2,010 opticians earning a median $39,370 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Optician here means completing an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Optician Schools in Indiana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Southwestern Community College	62.2	Contact school for pricing	$45,381	53%	Yes*	384 mi
2	Roane State Community College	59.9	Contact school for pricing	$45,998	Not reported	Yes*	322 mi
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3	Indian Hills Community College	56.1	Contact school for pricing	$50,322	Not reported	Yes*	328 mi
4	Erie Community College	52.1	Contact school for pricing	$48,895	Not reported	Yes*	415 mi
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5	Cincinnati State Technical and Community College	50.7	Contact school for pricing	$59,235	18%	Yes*	122 mi
6	Elgin Community College	50.2	Contact school for pricing	$54,220	41%	—	159 mi
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7	Universal Technical Institute-Canton	50.1	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	194 mi
8	Ivy Tech Community College	49.2	$5,154 - $15,370	$53,369	38%	Yes*	40 mi
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9	Southwest Virginia Community College	48.9	Contact school for pricing	$43,371	Not reported	Yes*	329 mi
10	Cuyahoga Community College District	47.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,698	30%	Yes*	247 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Indiana employs approximately 2,010 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,370 ¹. The state’s concentration of optician jobs is 1.33x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Indiana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: opticianry program or state-recognized apprentice path (find programs)
Typical timeline: an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade
Exam: ABO-NCLE and/or the state dispensing-optician exam
Median wage (Indiana): $39,370 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in Indiana

How to become an Optician in Indiana? Complete an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Indiana? Yes. Indiana typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do opticians earn in Indiana? The median annual wage for opticians in Indiana is $39,370 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,930 and experienced professionals can earn $49,960 or more ¹.

How to Become an Optician in Indiana

Meet entry rules. Confirm age and education with the program and employer. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
Complete an opticianry program or recognized apprentice path. Some states use a two-year program; others use a board-registered apprentice path. That is not a DAS construction apprenticeship.
Pass ABO-NCLE or the state exam. Confirm which exam the program and employer requires.
Apply for the dispensing-optician license. Apply to the program and employer in states that license opticians. Do not treat optometrist rows as the optician path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Optician License Requirements in Indiana

Dispensing opticians are licensed in some states. The path is an opticianry program or board apprentice route, then the state exam. Optometrist licenses are a different occupation.

Typical path

Complete an opticianry program or board apprentice path.
Pass the required exam.
Apply to the program and employer where the state licenses opticians.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Indiana

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Indiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	2,420	$44,530	$47,180	$37,530	$63,560
Cincinnati	570	$50,730	$52,160	$37,290	$65,340
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood	520	$39,580	$42,330	$31,930	$51,530
Louisville/Jefferson County	340	$40,560	$44,370	$29,050	$62,970
Fort Wayne	170	$39,840	$43,280	$34,610	$54,050
Evansville	120	$37,790	$39,390	$31,050	$49,270
South Bend-Mishawaka	80	$38,000	$41,440	$32,440	$49,700
Lafayette-West Lafayette	60	$38,370	$40,360	$34,030	$49,620
Bloomington	50	$37,890	$41,010	$35,520	$50,870
Kokomo	50	$38,390	$40,040	$34,610	$46,590
Elkhart-Goshen	40	$39,800	$41,530	$31,680	$47,480
Michigan City-La Porte	40	$38,070	$39,600	$30,720	$54,820
Muncie	40	$36,600	$39,680	$29,900	$47,360
Terre Haute	30	$38,260	$39,470	$28,910	$49,230

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Indiana? Indiana currently employs approximately 2,010 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Indiana with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Indiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Indiana.

How much do opticians earn in Indiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Indiana is $39,370, which is $7,190 below the national median of $46,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In Indiana

Best Trade Schools in Indiana (2026)

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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)