How to Become an Optician in South Carolina (2026)

Q: How long does optician training take in South Carolina?

Most people become an Optician in South Carolina 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 South Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,000. Employment concentration in South Carolina is roughly 0.82 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 South Carolina?

South Carolina currently employs approximately 890 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

South Carolina employs about 890 opticians earning a median $48,000 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 South Carolina

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	Southwestern Community College	62.2	$4,112 in-state / $13,184 out-of-state	$45,381	53%	Yes*	179 mi
2	Hillsborough Community College	61.2	$2,506 in-state / $9,111 out-of-state	$49,784	34%	Yes*	413 mi
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3	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state	$42,844	43%	Yes*	151 mi
4	Roane State Community College	59.9	$4,998 in-state / $18,630 out-of-state	$45,998	36%	Yes*	265 mi
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5	Daytona State College	59.8	$3,106 in-state / $11,994 out-of-state	$49,001	43%	Yes*	316 mi
6	J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	52.7	$5,280 in-state / $11,718 out-of-state	$54,140	32%	Yes*	322 mi
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7	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College	50.7	$3,480 in-state / $6,048 out-of-state	$40,586	50%	Yes*	248 mi
8	Ogeechee Technical College	50.1	$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state	$40,635	43%	Yes*	111 mi
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9	Durham Technical Community College	49.8	$1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state	$57,868	45%	Yes*	188 mi
10	Southwest Virginia Community College	48.9	$5,075 in-state / $11,513 out-of-state	$43,371	46%	Yes*	239 mi
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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.

South Carolina employs approximately 890 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,000 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 South Carolina, 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 (South Carolina): $48,000 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Optician in South Carolina

How to become an Optician in South Carolina? 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 South Carolina? Yes. South Carolina typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do opticians earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for opticians in South Carolina is $48,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,240 and experienced professionals can earn $73,890 or more ¹.

How to Become an Optician in South Carolina

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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), opticians, dispensing wages in South 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
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	160	$46,920	$51,340	$36,920	$75,390
Augusta-Richmond County	150	$44,700	$49,520	$35,330	$70,960
Charleston-North Charleston	140	$47,900	$52,520	$39,320	$76,850
Columbia	130	$46,150	$48,720	$36,700	$68,440
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	110	$48,390	$51,620	$35,950	$76,850
Spartanburg	60	$55,170	$54,910	$38,080	$72,680
Florence	50	$47,150	$48,270	$35,790	$66,070
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal	50	$48,120	$49,090	$29,800	$62,190

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 South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 890 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

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

How much do opticians earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in South Carolina is $48,000, which is $1,440 above the national median of $46,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Carolina

Best Trade Schools in South Carolina (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

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)