# Opticians, Dispensing

US SOC code 29-2081. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-2081

Also called: Dispensing optician, Optician, Licensed optician, Optical dispenser, Ophthalmic dispenser.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **73,530** US dispensing opticians, with median pay of **$47,260** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **79,690**, in May 2024. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1904/dec/occupations.html) of **12,000** from 1900, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for dispensing opticians: Electronic lensometer + pupillometer, 2000 to 2018.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.2% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-2081&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **23.8%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Opticians, Dispensing employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1850
- Latest US employment: 73,530 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Latest US median pay: $47,260 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [12]
- Outlook: +4.2% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [27]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 32100)
  - Employment, 2020: 9,555. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [9]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 32100 Opticians, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$52,400. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [15]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 32100 Opticians, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 28 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | 12,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Derived estimate from the 1900 U.S… [1] |
| 1940 | 28,000 | n/a | Decennial Census 1940 [2] |
| 1970 | 54,000 (estimate) | $7,800 (estimate) | Est., Estimate based on BLS Occupational… [3] |
| 1990 | 65,000 | $22,400 | BLS CPS [4] |
| 2000 | 66,580 | n/a | BLS OEWS 2000 [5] |
| 2003 | 63,780 | $26,350 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [6] |
| 2004 | 62,350 | $27,950 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [6] |
| 2005 | 70,090 | $29,000 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [6] |
| 2006 | 65,190 | $30,300 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [6] |
| 2007 | 62,420 | $31,430 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [6] |
| 2008 | 59,470 | $32,810 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [6] |
| 2009 | 60,840 | $32,740 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [6] |
| 2010 | 62,200 | $32,940 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [6] |
| 2011 | 60,680 | $33,100 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [6] |
| 2012 | 64,930 | $33,330 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [6] |
| 2013 | 68,390 | $33,770 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [6] |
| 2014 | 73,110 | $34,280 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [6] |
| 2015 | 73,520 | $34,840 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [6] |
| 2016 | 75,270 | $35,530 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [6] |
| 2017 | 75,450 | $36,250 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [6] |
| 2018 | 72,250 | $37,010 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [6] |
| 2019 | 72,330 | $37,840 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [6] |
| 2020 | 68,180 | $38,530 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [6] |
| 2021 | 73,270 | $37,570 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [6] |
| 2022 | 73,460 | $39,610 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [6] |
| 2023 | 76,770 | $44,170 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [6] |
| 2024 | 79,690 | $46,560 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [6] |
| 2025 | 73,530 | $47,260 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [6] |

## Sources (90)

### Employment series

1. [Derived estimate from the 1900 U.S. Census combined occupation 'Opticians and lens grinders and polishers'; dispensing subset split at roughly half](https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1904/dec/occupations.html), Derived estimate (1900 U.S. Census occupation tables)
2. [IPUMS USA -- Occupation and Industry Codes and Documentation (1940 Census occupational classification)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
3. [Estimate based on BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1970-71 edition (Bulletin 1650), 'Dispensing opticians and optical mechanics'](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/occupational-outlook-handbook-3964/occupational-outlook-handbook-1970-71-edition-499632), Derived estimate (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 1970-71)
4. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1990-91 edition -- Opticians, Dispensing](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/opticians-dispensing.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
8. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
9. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

10. [Estimate (~$7,800/yr, $3.75/hr) derived from BLS OOH 1970-71 and contemporary BLS wage surveys for health technical occupations](https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/occupational-outlook-handbook-3964/occupational-outlook-handbook-1970-71-edition-499632), Derived estimate (BLS OOH 1970-71 / BLS wage surveys)
11. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1990-91 edition -- Opticians, Dispensing (earnings section)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/opticians-dispensing.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
12. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
15. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

16. [Wikipedia -- "American Optical" (19th-century optical trade history, Southbridge MA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Optical), Wikipedia
17. [Wikipedia -- "Lensmeter" (history of lensometer development, from 1876 phakometer to early 20th-century direct-reading instruments)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lensmeter), Wikipedia
18. [Wikipedia -- "Progressive lens" (Varilux origin: Bernard Maitenaz patent 1953, commercial launch 1959 by Societe des Lunetiers / Essilor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_lens), Wikipedia
19. [Wikipedia -- "LensCrafters" (founded March 1983 by E. Dean Butler; first store; in-store lab model; chain expansion history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LensCrafters), Wikipedia
20. [O\*NET 29-2081.00 -- Opticians, Dispensing (tools and technology section)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2081.00), O\*NET / BLS
21. [Warby Parker -- Our Story (company founding, 2010)](https://www.warbyparker.com/history), Warby Parker
22. [NECO -- "The Optician Shortage: Facts and Opportunities" (2025)](https://www.neco.edu/news/the-optician-shortage-facts-opportunities/), New England College of Optometry
23. [Zeiss -- VISUFIT 1000 Platform (3D centration + virtual try-on)](https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/en/eye-care-professionals/equipment/frame-selection-and-centration/visufit-1000-platform.html), Carl Zeiss AG
24. [Essilor Instruments -- VisiOffice X+ (Autoboxing AI feature, 2025)](https://www.essilor-instruments.com/visioffice-x-plus/), Essilor Instruments
25. [First Insight -- MaximEyes AI Powered by EVAA (September 2025)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/09/18/3152492/0/en/First-Insight-Launches-MaximEyes-AI-Powered-by-EVAA.html), GlobeNewswire / First Insight
26. [Fittingbox -- Virtual Try-On and Optical Toolbox (2025)](https://fittingbox.com/), Fittingbox

### Forecasts and exposure studies

27. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-2081 Opticians, dispensing (2025: 74.3 thousand; 2035: 77.4 thousand; +4.2%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-2081&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
28. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-2081.00, human-rated β 0.238)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

29. [Wikipedia -- "American Optical" (company founding, Southbridge MA, William Beecher, optical manufacturing history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Optical), Wikipedia
30. [Optical Society of America / Optica -- History of OSA (founded 1916)](https://www.optica.org/history), Optica (formerly Optical Society of America)
31. [Wikipedia -- "Progressive lens" (Varilux: Bernard Maitenaz patent 1953, commercial launch 1959 by Societe des Lunetiers / Essilor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_lens), Wikipedia
32. [ABO-NCLE -- About ABO-NCLE (history and mission)](https://www.abo-ncle.org/About), American Board of Opticianry / National Contact Lens Examiners
33. [Wikipedia -- "LensCrafters" (founded March 1983 by E. Dean Butler; first store; in-store lab model; chain growth)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LensCrafters), Wikipedia
34. [Warby Parker -- Our Story (company founding, 2010)](https://www.warbyparker.com/history), Warby Parker
35. [NECO -- "The Optician Shortage: Facts and Opportunities" (2025)](https://www.neco.edu/news/the-optician-shortage-facts-opportunities/), New England College of Optometry

### Predecessors & successors

36. [Wikipedia -- "American Optical" (spectacle-making trade history, 19th-century optical craft origins)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Optical), Wikipedia

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 29-2081.00 -- Opticians, Dispensing](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2081.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook -- Opticians, Dispensing](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/opticians-dispensing.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 -- GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [NECO -- The Optician Shortage: Facts and Opportunities (2025)](https://www.neco.edu/news/the-optician-shortage-facts-opportunities/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [RevolutionEHR -- Optometry Practice Management Trends for 2026](https://www.revolutionehr.com/blogs/trends-optometry-practice-management), accessed 2026-06-05
- [First Insight -- MaximEyes AI Powered by EVAA (September 2025)](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/09/18/3152492/0/en/First-Insight-Launches-MaximEyes-AI-Powered-by-EVAA.html), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Fittingbox -- Virtual Try-On and Optical Toolbox (2025)](https://fittingbox.com/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Optogrid -- AI in Optical Practices: What Actually Works in 2026](https://www.optogrid.com/blog/ai-in-optical-practices/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Essilor Instruments -- VisiOffice X+ (Autoboxing AI feature, 2025)](https://www.essilor-instruments.com/visioffice-x-plus/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Zeiss -- VISUFIT 1000 Platform (3D centration + virtual try-on)](https://www.zeiss.com/vision-care/en/eye-care-professionals/equipment/frame-selection-and-centration/visufit-1000-platform.html), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.