BLS 10-Year Projection: 2024-2034
Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent, Long-term on-the-job training.
Of the 68,000 projected openings, approximately +2,300 are from job growth and 65,700 from replacement needs (retirements, career changes).
Employment is projected to move from 2024 (79,900 jobs) to 2034 (82,200 jobs), a net change of 2,300 jobs.
Total projected openings over the projection period: 68,000. This includes growth and replacement needs.
What Annual Openings Mean
Annual openings describe positions expected to become available for opticians over time. They offer a view of recurring workforce demand, which is different from the projected change in the total number of optician jobs. For someone weighing this career, the opening estimate can help frame how many positions may come up across the occupation in a typical year.
The figure captures positions expected to become available across the occupation over time. It also does not say how many applicants will seek those positions or how readily any one person may be hired. Consider it alongside the separate employment projection to distinguish ongoing openings from the occupation’s overall direction.
What the Ten-Year Projection Shows
Optician employment is projected to increase over the coming decade, with growth on pace with the national average. The projection points to gradual expansion in the number of optician jobs over that period. For someone weighing optician work, the outlook suggests that the field may offer a growing base of positions over time.
The projection gives a broad view of how the occupation may change across the decade. It can help you weigh optician work as a career with expected employment growth, while leaving individual job prospects dependent on circumstances beyond the overall projection. The central takeaway is measured expansion in the profession, with employment expected to rise over the decade.
Employment Trend
| Year | Total jobs, incl. self-employed |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 79,900 |
| 2034 | 82,200 |
Projection based on BLS Employment Projections (base year vs. projected year).
What This Means
The employment projection points to gradual expansion through 2034, so prospective workers can expect a growing field with measured pace. Annual openings indicate continuing opportunities to enter the occupation or move between jobs. Current and prospective opticians can plan around steady, incremental expansion and follow openings as they arise.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment Projections & OEWS) | Data year: 2025 | Last updated: October 23, 2026