How to Become An Optician in North Carolina
North Carolina employs approximately 2,020 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,190 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 North Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in North Carolina
How do I become an optician in North Carolina? North Carolina requires credentials such as Optician Privilege, Intern Optician Registration, Apprentice Optician Registration. The licensing authority is the NC Department of Revenue - Taxpayer Assistance 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
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.
Do I need a license in North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for opticians. The NC Department of Revenue - Taxpayer Assistance oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do opticians earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for opticians in North Carolina is $50,190 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,500 and experienced professionals can earn $81,340 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: NC Department of Revenue - Taxpayer Assistance
- Median wage (North Carolina): $50,190 per year 1
- Exam requirement: No exam required
Optician License Requirements in North Carolina
The NC Department of Revenue - Taxpayer Assistance oversees optician licensing in North Carolina 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Optician Privilege | Optician Is One Who Makes Or Sells Lenses, Eyeglasses, Other Optical Instruments, dispensing opticians fitting frames to customers? faces, and making adjustments. |
| Intern Optician Registration | This is a Registration (not license) with the Board, that denotes the trainee to be working in a 6-month training time; it serves as a trainer’s final assessment of a trainee’s knowledge of Practice p… |
| Apprentice Optician Registration | Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. |
| Optician in Charge (OIC) Registration | Assigns primary responsibility for an optical business’s compliance with Practice Act and Administrative Rule to one licensed optician. |
| Optical Business Registration | Registers an optical place of business in the state: whether independently-owned or a corporate entity. Must be redone during year if ownership or location/address changes. |
| Licensed Dispensing Optician (LDO) | Opticians Interpret Prescriptions Written By An Ophthalmologist Or Optometrist. |
Additional Requirements
- Exam: No exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Optician Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), opticians, dispensing wages in North Carolina vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 490 | $51,620 | $58,320 | $38,380 | $81,910 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 480 | $47,090 | $54,950 | $37,980 | $83,170 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 400 | $52,390 | $53,690 | $35,870 | $68,760 |
| Wilmington | 130 | $45,400 | $52,140 | $36,280 | $83,600 |
| Winston-Salem | 130 | $55,990 | $56,790 | $36,310 | $81,110 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 120 | $59,420 | $58,750 | $36,110 | $77,850 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 80 | $58,310 | $60,240 | $37,320 | $84,420 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 80 | $40,910 | $50,640 | $35,510 | $79,280 |
| Asheville | 70 | $49,110 | $54,840 | $36,350 | $80,790 |
| Fayetteville | 60 | $57,780 | $58,900 | $35,940 | $80,600 |
| Burlington | 40 | $55,530 | $56,680 | $36,850 | $76,110 |
| Jacksonville | 30 | $54,900 | $56,150 | $35,480 | $82,600 |
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 North Carolina
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest optician employment within North Carolina according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 490 | $51,620 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 480 | $47,090 |
| Wilmington | 130 | $45,400 |
| Winston-Salem | 130 | $55,990 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 120 | $59,420 |
Explore More Trades in North Carolina
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for opticians in North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 2,020 opticians 1. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an optician in North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the NC Department of Revenue - Taxpayer Assistance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in North Carolina.
How much do opticians earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in North Carolina is $50,190, which is $3,630 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NC Department of Revenue - Taxpayer Assistance - Licensing Information: https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/privilege-license-tax ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |