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

"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 Montana?"

"In Montana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Montana Apprenticeship and Training Program, 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 Montana

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,050. Employment concentration in Montana is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Montana currently employs approximately 330 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

Montana opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $47,050 ($22.62/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 330 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.4% below the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,050 ($22.62/hr)
25th percentile: $40,330 per year
75th percentile: $54,560 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $64,730 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,240 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 330
Versus national median: -0.4% below the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in Montana than the national average

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

Montana employs approximately 330 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,050 ¹. The state’s concentration of optician jobs is 1.34x 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 Montana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in Montana

How do I become an optician in Montana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for opticians in Montana.

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 Montana? The median annual wage for opticians in Montana is $47,050 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,240 and experienced professionals can earn $64,730 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 (Montana): $47,050 per year ¹

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	90	$46,260	$48,940	$36,380	$64,610
Missoula	50	$48,050	$49,750	$34,680	$76,750
Bozeman	40	$51,760	$53,370	$38,430	$75,300
Great Falls	40	$47,120	$44,890	$33,790	$52,000

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 Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Billings	90	$46,260
Missoula	50	$48,050
Bozeman	40	$51,760
Great Falls	40	$47,120

Explore More Trades in Montana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 330 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do opticians earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Montana is $47,050, which is $490 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)