Find Trade Colleges

Study Area & Zipcode

Photonics Technician

Find Schools Near

What Do Photonics Technician Do?

Position Description Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

Daily Life Of a Photonics Technician

  • Assemble devices or equipment to be used in green technology applications, including solar energy, high efficiency solid state lighting, energy management, smart buildings, or green processes.
  • Repair or calibrate products, such as surgical lasers.
  • Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as necessary.
  • Optimize photonic process parameters by making prototype or production devices.
  • Recommend optical or optic equipment design or material changes to reduce costs or processing times.
  • Perform diagnostic analyses of processing steps, using analytical or metrological tools, such as microscopy, profilometry, or ellipsometry devices.

Photonics Technician Skills

Photonics Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Optics Manufacturing Technician
  • Thin-film Technician
  • Laser/Electro-Optics Technician (LEOT)
  • Coating Manager
  • Precision Optics Technician

Photonics Technician Job Outlook

In the United States, there were 76,800 jobs for Photonics Technician in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,000 new jobs for Photonics Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,100 job openings in this field each year.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Photonics Technician are Utah, Nevada, and Connecticut. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, West Virginia, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Photonics Technicians Salary

The typical yearly salary for Photonics Technicians is somewhere between $36,120 and $98,720.

undefined

Photonics Technicians who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Maine, make the highest salaries.

How much do Photonics Technicians make in each U.S. state?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $59,380
Alaska $71,850
Arizona $59,210
Arkansas $60,310
California $71,420
Colorado $63,590
Connecticut $64,510
Delaware $51,380
District of Columbia $92,600
Florida $58,860
Georgia $59,830
Hawaii $76,070
Idaho $55,540
Illinois $63,760
Indiana $58,450
Iowa $57,620
Kansas $65,870
Kentucky $58,880
Louisiana $59,930
Maine $79,670
Maryland $84,790
Massachusetts $64,220
Michigan $64,270
Minnesota $57,440
Mississippi $60,500
Missouri $59,830
Montana $59,810
Nebraska $57,630
Nevada $71,330
New Hampshire $57,730
New Jersey $75,380
New Mexico $78,160
New York $63,780
North Carolina $63,600
North Dakota $75,030
Ohio $61,060
Oklahoma $63,790
Oregon $56,890
Pennsylvania $57,210
Rhode Island $73,240
South Carolina $70,820
South Dakota $51,110
Tennessee $57,800
Texas $66,630
Utah $56,480
Vermont $58,960
Virginia $77,280
Washington $74,810
West Virginia $70,550
Wisconsin $58,780
Wyoming $67,110

Tools & Technologies Used by Photonics Technicians

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Photonics Technicians may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software
  • SAP
  • Database software
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Presentation software
  • Data acquisition software
  • Statistical analysis software
  • Image processing software

Becoming a Photonics Technician

Individuals working as a Photonics Technician have obtained the following education levels:

undefined

How many years of work experience do I need?

undefined

Who Employs Photonics Technicians?

undefined

The table below shows the approximate number of Photonics Technicians employed by various industries.

undefined

References:

Image Credit: via Creative Commons CC0

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.