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

"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 New Mexico?"

"In New Mexico, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship, 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 New Mexico

Q: "How much do opticians earn in New Mexico?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,090. Employment concentration in New Mexico is roughly 0.83 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 New Mexico?"

"New Mexico currently employs approximately 340 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

New Mexico employs approximately 340 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,090 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 New Mexico, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in New Mexico

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

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 New Mexico? The median annual wage for opticians in New Mexico is $39,090 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,010 and experienced professionals can earn $72,920 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 (New Mexico): $39,090 per year ¹

Optician Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Albuquerque	170	$39,230	$45,460	$31,010	$76,750
Santa Fe	50	$40,200	$45,850	$36,040	$58,650

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 New Mexico

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Albuquerque	170	$39,230
Santa Fe	50	$40,200

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 340 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do opticians earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in New Mexico is $39,090, which is $7,470 below 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)