How to Become an Optician in Pennsylvania (2026)

Q: How long does optician training take in Pennsylvania?

Most people become an Optician in Pennsylvania through an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade.

Q: How much do opticians earn in Pennsylvania?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Pennsylvania earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,450. Employment concentration in Pennsylvania is roughly 0.78 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 Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 2,230 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

Pennsylvania opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $45,450 ($21.85/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.8% below the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $45,450 ($21.85/hr)
25th percentile: $38,460 per year
75th percentile: $49,620 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $58,450 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,160 per year
Workers employed in Pennsylvania: 2,230
Versus national median: -3.8% below the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.78 - this occupation is less concentrated in Pennsylvania than the national average

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

Pennsylvania employs about 2,230 opticians earning a median $45,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Optician here means completing an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Optician Schools in Pennsylvania

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Raritan Valley Community College	69.8	$5,664 in-state / $7,584 out-of-state	$57,072	31%	Yes*	120 mi
2	Springfield Technical Community College	58.4	$5,904 in-state / $11,112 out-of-state	$51,917	32%	Yes*	257 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Quinsigamond Community College	58.1	$6,262 in-state / $11,206 out-of-state	$55,076	22%	Yes*	299 mi
4	Camden County College	55.1	$4,320 in-state / $4,416 out-of-state	$55,466	31%	Yes*	109 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Sussex County Community College	53.8	$5,544 in-state / $9,024 out-of-state	$41,662	37%	Yes*	125 mi
6	J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	52.7	$5,280 in-state / $11,718 out-of-state	$54,140	32%	Yes*	197 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Erie Community College	52.1	$6,100 in-state / $11,300 out-of-state	$48,895	28%	Yes*	200 mi
8	Monroe Community College	50.8	$6,006 in-state / $11,056 out-of-state	$47,430	27%	Yes*	192 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Connecticut State Community College	47.6	$5,338 in-state / $15,596 out-of-state	$50,130	24%	Yes*	243 mi
10	Cuyahoga Community College District	47.6	$3,249 in-state / $7,249 out-of-state	$49,698	31%	Yes*	259 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Pennsylvania employs approximately 2,230 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,450 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 Pennsylvania, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: opticianry program or state-recognized apprentice path (find programs)
Typical timeline: an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade
Exam: ABO-NCLE and/or the state dispensing-optician exam
Median wage (Pennsylvania): $45,450 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in Pennsylvania

How to become an Optician in Pennsylvania? Complete an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Apply through the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish an opticianry program or apprenticeship where the state uses one, then a dispensing-optician license in states that license the trade. Confirm current hour totals with the program and the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Pennsylvania? Yes. Pennsylvania typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do opticians earn in Pennsylvania? The median annual wage for opticians in Pennsylvania is $45,450 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,160 and experienced professionals can earn $58,450 or more ¹.

How to Become an Optician in Pennsylvania

Meet entry rules. Confirm age and education with the program and employer. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
Complete an opticianry program or recognized apprentice path. Some states use a two-year program; others use a board-registered apprentice path. That is not a DAS construction apprenticeship.
Pass ABO-NCLE or the state exam. Confirm which exam the program and employer requires.
Apply for the dispensing-optician license. Apply to the program and employer in states that license opticians. Do not treat optometrist rows as the optician path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Optician License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Dispensing opticians are licensed in some states. The path is an opticianry program or board apprentice route, then the state exam. Optometrist licenses are a different occupation.

Typical path

Complete an opticianry program or board apprentice path.
Pass the required exam.
Apply to the program and employer where the state licenses opticians.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	1,070	$49,300	$53,620	$37,900	$74,270
Pittsburgh	450	$46,470	$45,720	$35,800	$56,220
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	150	$48,190	$50,680	$37,780	$70,280
Lancaster	120	$48,620	$48,180	$37,860	$58,870
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre	120	$44,860	$44,760	$35,760	$56,420
Harrisburg-Carlisle	100	$45,710	$46,910	$35,510	$64,750
York-Hanover	100	$45,300	$46,670	$36,750	$58,240
Erie	70	$39,120	$41,880	$34,860	$53,910
Reading	60	$42,470	$43,610	$29,940	$56,660
Lebanon	40	$46,010	$43,250	$31,930	$49,620
State College	40	$46,150	$44,820	$35,130	$56,770
Johnstown	30	$37,860	$40,310	$34,560	$47,060

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 2,230 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Pennsylvania with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Pennsylvania? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Pennsylvania.

How much do opticians earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Pennsylvania is $45,450, which is $1,110 below the national median of $46,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In Pennsylvania

Best Trade Schools in Pennsylvania (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Pennsylvania

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)