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

"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 Vermont?"

"In Vermont, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Vermont 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 Vermont

Q: "How much do opticians earn in Vermont?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), opticians in Vermont earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,350. Employment concentration in Vermont is roughly 0.47 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do opticians need a license in Vermont?"

"Yes. Vermont requires state-level licensing or registration for opticians, administered by the Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Vermont currently employs approximately 70 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

Vermont opticians, dispensing earn a median annual wage of $57,350 ($27.57/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 70 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 21.3% above the national median of $47,260 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,350 ($27.57/hr)
25th percentile: $46,550 per year
75th percentile: $68,080 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $76,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $41,600 per year
Workers employed in Vermont: 70
Versus national median: 21.3% above the U.S. median of $47,260
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.47 - this occupation is less concentrated in Vermont than the national average

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

Vermont employs approximately 70 opticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,350 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 Vermont, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Optician in Vermont

How do I become an optician in Vermont? Vermont requires credentials such as Optician. The licensing authority is the Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional 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 Vermont? Yes. Vermont has licensing or registration requirements for opticians. The Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do opticians earn in Vermont? The median annual wage for opticians in Vermont is $57,350 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,600 and experienced professionals can earn $76,850 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: Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional Regulation
Median wage (Vermont): $57,350 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Optician License Requirements in Vermont

The Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional Regulation oversees optician licensing in Vermont ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Optician	Designs, measures, fits, and adapts lenses and frames for eyeglasses and contact lenses for client according to written optical prescription or specification.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Affidavit or referral required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Optician Wages by Metro Area in Vermont

Opticians, Dispensing Wages by Metro Area in Vermont

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Burlington-South Burlington	30	$59,310	$67,390	$40,330	$77,310

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 Vermont

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Burlington-South Burlington	30	$59,310

Explore More Trades in Vermont

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for opticians in Vermont? Vermont currently employs approximately 70 opticians ¹. Nationally, optician employment is projected to grow 2.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an optician in Vermont with an out-of-state license? Contact the Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do opticians earn in Vermont compared to the national average? The median annual wage for opticians in Vermont is $57,350, which is $10,790 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Vermont Secretary of State - Office of Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://sos.vermont.gov/opticians/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)