Are you thinking of embarking into a career that’s uncommon and has a good compensation package? You may want to try an optician’s job, but before you do so, you need to fully comprehend the average optician salary. That great news is that most opticians are paid well but these salaries can vary depending on their current position and existing responsibilities.

Wage Computations for an Optician

An optician can be paid by the hour or on salary. This depends on the company that the optician is working for. The average optician salary in the U.S. is $43,000 per annum but this can also range from $30,000 (for incoming opticians) up to $50,000 (for expert opticians). The hourly wage range is at $8-$15 per hour.

Benefit Package for Opticians

Optician benefits are quite good because they enjoy the following –

Health care
Paid sick leaves
Paid holidays
Retirement benefits

There are even opticians who can earn commissions by attaining big sales. Optician salary varies depending on the following factors –

Location – the more urbanized an area is, the higher the salary is. Rural area salaries often reflect the cost of living, therefore, optometrists in New York can be paid as much as $60,000 every year.
Education – just like any profession, the salary of an optometrist increases as his trainings pile up. An optician will climb to the top of the ranks after studying and getting certified. Formal education from community colleges or universities can guarantee a good compensation package from the onset.

There are now 22 states that require opticians to get certification through classes and examinations with The American Board of Examiners.

Experience – an optician that has worked for five years will definitely earn more than those who are just starting their career. More years on the job generally means better understanding of tools, service and policies. The optician is also expected to be more effective at work due to his years of experience. With this expertise comes salary raise.
Industry – there are many ways that an optician can work. He can work with optometrists and ophthalmologists by providing quality glasses and contact lenses for customers.

An optician who chooses to further his education and training can work on artificial eyes. You can also find opticians working in health stores, department stores, and optometrists’ offices. If you want to venture into your own business, then there are a lot of entrepreneurial activities for those who are ready to open their own optical shop. Keep in mind that those who work in offices are generally paid less than the ones that work elsewhere.