Opticians, dispensing
SOC Code: 29-2081
Opticians, dispensing carries a 57% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $46,560 and +2.9% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 79,900 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Opticians, dispensing (SOC 29-2081) carries an AI exposure score of 57%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 79,900 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.9% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $46,560, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Opticians, dispensing. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Measure clients' bridge and eye size, temple length, vertex distance, pupillary distance, and optical centers of eyes, using measuring devices.
- 2. Verify that finished lenses are ground to specifications.
- 3. Evaluate prescriptions in conjunction with clients' vocational and avocational visual requirements.
- 4. Recommend specific lenses, lens coatings, and frames to suit client needs.
- 5. Assist clients in selecting frames according to style and color, and ensure that frames are coordinated with facial and eye measurements and optical prescriptions.
- 6. Maintain records of customer prescriptions, work orders, and payments.
- 7. Heat, shape, or bend plastic or metal frames to adjust eyeglasses to fit clients, using pliers and hands.
- 8. Show customers how to insert, remove, and care for their contact lenses.
- 9. Determine clients' current lens prescriptions, when necessary, using lensometers or lens analyzers and clients' eyeglasses.
- 10. Prepare work orders and instructions for grinding lenses and fabricating eyeglasses.
Key Skills Required
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Writing
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Persuasion
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Administrative
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- Law and Government
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Opticians, dispensing?
Opticians, dispensing has an AI exposure score of 57%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Opticians, dispensing?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Opticians, dispensing is projected to grow by 2.9% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 79,900 workers.
What skills are needed for Opticians, dispensing?
Key skills for Opticians, dispensing include Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Opticians, dispensing earn?
The median annual wage for Opticians, dispensing is $46,560, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Opticians, dispensing?
The typical entry-level education for Opticians, dispensing is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Long-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Opticians, dispensing?
Opticians, dispensing roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).