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

"The primary Massachusetts license requires approximately 3,000 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 1.5 years of full-time work."

"What apprenticeships are available for opticians in Massachusetts?"

"In Massachusetts, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice 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 Massachusetts

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of approximately $67,210. Employment concentration in Massachusetts is roughly 0.79 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do opticians need a license in Massachusetts?"

"Yes. Massachusetts requires state-level licensing or registration for opticians, administered by the Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Massachusetts currently employs approximately 1,360 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

Massachusetts opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $67,210 ($32.31/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,360 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 42.2% above the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $67,210 ($32.31/hr)
25th percentile: $54,290 per year
75th percentile: $79,670 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $83,550 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,850 per year
Workers employed in Massachusetts: 1,360
Versus national median: 42.2% above the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.79 - this occupation is less concentrated in Massachusetts than the national average

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

Massachusetts employs approximately 1,360 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $67,210 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 Massachusetts, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in Massachusetts

How do I become an optician in Massachusetts? Massachusetts requires credentials such as DISPENSING OPTICIAN. The licensing authority is the Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 3,000 hours of experience (roughly 1.5 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Massachusetts? Yes. Massachusetts has licensing or registration requirements for opticians. The Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do opticians earn in Massachusetts? The median annual wage for opticians in Massachusetts is $67,210 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,850 and experienced professionals can earn $83,550 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: Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure
Median wage (Massachusetts): $67,210 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Optician License Requirements in Massachusetts

The Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure oversees optician licensing in Massachusetts ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
DISPENSING OPTICIAN	Pursuant to 235 CMR 2.07 all applicants for licensure must have graduated from an accredited two-year educational program in opticianry or successfully complete one year of education in an accredited…

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	950	$64,170	$66,940	$49,010	$83,570
Providence-Warwick	450	$48,940	$55,990	$38,480	$77,130
Worcester	160	$67,630	$67,850	$48,670	$83,040
Springfield	70	$71,000	$67,720	$46,970	$85,110
Amherst Town-Northampton	60	$65,000	$64,270	$48,040	$81,700
Barnstable Town	60	$69,530	$67,620	$50,960	$86,950

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 Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	950	$64,170
Worcester	160	$67,630
Springfield	70	$71,000
Amherst Town-Northampton	60	$65,000
Barnstable Town	60	$69,530

Explore More Trades in Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 1,360 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Massachusetts with an out-of-state license? Contact the Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do opticians earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Massachusetts is $67,210, which is $20,650 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians - Division of Professional Licensure - Licensing Information: http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/do/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)