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.
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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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- 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.

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.

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:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Photonics Technicians?

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

References:
Image Credit:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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