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

"The primary Nevada license requires approximately 100 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.1 years of full-time work."

"Do opticians need a license in Nevada?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for opticians in Nevada?"

"In Nevada, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner, 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 Nevada

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Nevada earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,910. Employment concentration in Nevada is about 1.31 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Nevada currently employs approximately 960 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

Nevada opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $46,910 ($22.55/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 960 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.7% below the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $46,910 ($22.55/hr)
25th percentile: $46,010 per year
75th percentile: $79,140 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $84,660 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,090 per year
Workers employed in Nevada: 960
Versus national median: -0.7% below the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.31 - this occupation is more concentrated in Nevada than the national average

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

Nevada employs approximately 960 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,910 ¹. The state’s concentration of optician jobs is 1.31x 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 Nevada, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in Nevada

How do I become an optician in Nevada? Nevada requires credentials such as Optician. The licensing authority is the Board of Dispensing Opticians ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 100 hours of experience (roughly 0.1 years of full-time work) ³.

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

What do opticians earn in Nevada? The median annual wage for opticians in Nevada is $46,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,090 and experienced professionals can earn $84,660 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 Dispensing Opticians
Median wage (Nevada): $46,910 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Optician License Requirements in Nevada

The Board of Dispensing Opticians oversees optician licensing in Nevada ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Optician	Applicants must pass the Nevada state optical exam. To qualify for the exam, applicants must: 1) Be at least 18 years old, and of good moral character, and have graduated from an accredited high schoo…

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Nevada

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Nevada

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas	700	$46,850	$57,550	$38,840	$84,530
Reno	160	$47,680	$56,440	$34,500	$86,090

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 Nevada

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas	700	$46,850
Reno	160	$47,680

Explore More Trades in Nevada

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Nevada? Nevada currently employs approximately 960 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

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

How much do opticians earn in Nevada compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Nevada is $46,910, which is $350 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 Dispensing Opticians - Licensing Information: http://nvbdo.nv.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)