Money · 1 of 5
What opticians make
Typical
$59,000
New grad or student
$37,000
Manager or owner
$82,000
Job Bank's national median is $28.50 an hour, about $59,000 a year full time, with a range of $17.80 to $39.40. The low end is close to minimum wage because the code includes students and unlicensed sales staff at big chains. Licensed opticians with contact lens certification and a few years in sit in the middle to upper part of the range.