Salary
Average Salary: $44,881
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $1,873,692
Brace yourself: entry level dispensing opticians typically earn as little as twelve bucks an hour or less (source). Now you may be saying, "Heck with that, I can make more than that lugging them boxes down at the sandwich warehouse." And you might be right, but you'd also be underestimating the opportunities available as you gain experience in opticianry.
For one thing, optician salaries are actually on the rise (source). As technology and other advances drive productivity, a typical optician will be able to help more people in a day. The more customers you can, well, see, the greater your value to your employer, thus there are greater opportunities to up your pay grade and responsibilities.
Factoring in the value of bonuses and benefits, the average optician salary goes up to $65,375 (source). That means that if you work your way up to the middle, you'll be earning $20,000 in perks like health insurance, a 401k, and paid vacation time. If it's really all about the money for you, use that vacation time to earn some extra cash.
Opticians can also earn more by becoming certified in specialty eyewear-related services. Contact lenses and cosmetic fittings, for example, require a lot more precision in measurement. Therefore, those who take the time (and spend the cash) to specialize can earn significantly more, grinding their way into that all upper-middle class fanciness.