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

"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."

"Do opticians need a license in Rhode Island?"

"Yes. Rhode Island requires state-level licensing or registration for opticians, administered by the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for opticians in Rhode Island?"

"In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Q: "How much do opticians earn in Rhode Island?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,400. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is about 1.46 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Rhode Island currently employs approximately 350 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

Rhode Island opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $47,400 ($22.79/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 350 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.3% above the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,400 ($22.79/hr)
25th percentile: $45,700 per year
75th percentile: $60,780 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,130 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,480 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 350
Versus national median: 0.3% above the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.46 - this occupation is more concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

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

Rhode Island employs approximately 350 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,400 ¹. The state’s concentration of optician jobs is 1.46x 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 Rhode Island, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in Rhode Island

How do I become an optician in Rhode Island? Rhode Island requires credentials such as Optician. The licensing authority is the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation 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 Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island has licensing or registration requirements for opticians. The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do opticians earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for opticians in Rhode Island is $47,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,480 and experienced professionals can earn $77,130 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: RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation
Median wage (Rhode Island): $47,400 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Optician License Requirements in Rhode Island

The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees optician licensing in Rhode Island ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Optician	Reads eyeglass lens and frame specifications from prescription, selects lens blanks, sets up and operates machines to fabricate lenses to specifications.

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 Rhode Island

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	450	$48,940	$55,990	$38,480	$77,130

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 Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Providence-Warwick	450	$48,940

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 350 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do opticians earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Rhode Island is $47,400, which is $840 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation - Licensing Information: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)