NOC 32100: Opticians
What opticians do
Opticians assist clients in the selection of eyeglass frames, take the necessary measurements and arrange for the production of eyeglasses or contact lenses, mount lenses in eyeglass frames and fit clients with final prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses. They are employed in optical retail outlets or other establishments with optical dispensing departments, or they may be self-employed. Student opticians and opticians who are managers of optical retail outlets are included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription prepared by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or by analyzing the client's eyeglasses or contact lenses and take necessary measurements including the curvature of the eyes, the accurate position of the pupils and bridge width, using optical measuring devices
- Advice clients on eyeglasses selection by informing them of different products such as lens materials, frames, tints and anti-reflection coating
- Adjust contact lenses and inform client on use and care
- Grind, polish, cut and edge lenses or have them made by a laboratory before inserting them into the frame
- Adjust finished eyeglasses to fit client
- May supervise or manage the activities of other opticians or student opticians.
Job titles under NOC 32100
25 job titles are classified here, including contact lens fitter, contact lens practitioner, dispensing optician.
- apprentice optician
- contact lens dispenser
- contact lens fitter
- contact lens practitioner
- contact lens technician
- dispensing optician
- dispensing optician student
- eyeglasses fitter
- eyeglasses frame fitter
- intern optician
- licensed contact lens practitioner
- licensed dispensing optician
- licensed optician
- managing optician
- ophthalmic device dispenser
- ophthalmic dispenser
- optical device dispenser
- optical dispensing manager
- optical frame fitter
- optician
- optometric dispenser
- spectacle frame fitter
- student optician
- visual orthesis technician
Employment requirements
- Completion of a two- or three-year college program in ophthalmic dispensing or optical sciences is required.
- Licensing by a regulatory body for opticians is required in all provinces.
- Licensing requirements for scope of practice and protected titles related to the sale or dispensing and fitting of contact lenses vary by province.
Opticians wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $17.80/hr | $28.50/hr | $39.40/hr |
Toronto ON | $20.00/hr | $24.04/hr | $35.00/hr |
Montréal QC | $24.86/hr | $30.60/hr | $36.84/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $23.00/hr | $32.00/hr | $39.00/hr |
Calgary AB | $23.63/hr | $30.48/hr | $36.54/hr |
Edmonton AB | $23.34/hr | $29.71/hr | $35.28/hr |
Ottawa ON | $17.80/hr | $24.04/hr | $42.80/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $22.42/hr | $27.90/hr | $39.51/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $17.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $36.50/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $17.80/hr | $24.04/hr | $42.80/hr |
London ON | $17.80/hr | $24.04/hr | $42.80/hr |
Halifax NS | $23.12/hr | $27.70/hr | $33.52/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $24.22/hr | $30.58/hr | $37.04/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $23.33/hr | $30.32/hr | $35.13/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $22.72/hr | $30.88/hr | $37.38/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.43/hr | $29.59/hr | $38.51/hr |
Nova Scotia | $22.08/hr | $28.07/hr | $32.41/hr |
New Brunswick | $20.73/hr | $28.50/hr | $34.30/hr |
Quebec | $17.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $36.50/hr |
Ontario | $17.80/hr | $24.04/hr | $42.80/hr |
Manitoba | $21.16/hr | $29.69/hr | $37.86/hr |
Saskatchewan | $22.24/hr | $30.10/hr | $36.51/hr |
Alberta | $17.36/hr | $28.00/hr | $39.40/hr |
British Columbia | $22.00/hr | $30.82/hr | $38.46/hr |
Using NOC 32100 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 25 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Dispensing opticians office manager (NOC 60020)
- Ocularist (NOC 32129)
- Ophthalmologist (NOC 31101)
- Optical laboratory technician (NOC 33109)
- Optometrists (NOC 31111)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for opticians?
Opticians are NOC 2021 unit group 32100. Example job titles in this group include contact lens fitter, contact lens practitioner, dispensing optician, licensed optician.
What TEER is NOC 32100?
NOC 32100 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do opticians earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $28.50/hr, about $56,000 a year full-time, with a range of $17.80/hr to $39.40/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.