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2-step progression from Optician to Optometrist. Potential salary increase of 190% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$46,560
Optician
Top Salary
$134,830
Optometrist
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$46,560
Opticianry program + ABO/NCLE certification
Avg. Licensing Cost
$496
Avg. Timeline
4 weeks – 1.3 years
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Median Salary
$134,830
OD degree (4 years) + NBEO exams
Avg. Licensing Cost
$4,878
Avg. Timeline
4.2 years – 4.5 years
The vision care career ladder is a professional progression from Optician to Optometrist. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Optician ($46,560 median) to Optometrist ($134,830 median) represents a 190% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Optician: Opticianry program + ABO/NCLE certification. Optometrist: OD degree (4 years) + NBEO exams. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.