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Photonics Technicians: Job Description
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
The Daily Work of Photonics Technicians Do?
The core tasks performed by photonics technicians include:
- Compute or record photonic test data.
- Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.
- Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices.
- Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.
- Set up or operate assembly or processing equipment, such as lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature or humidity chambers, or optical spectrum analyzers.
- Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
- Test or perform failure analysis for optomechanical or optoelectrical products, according to test plans.
- Assist engineers in the development of new products, fixtures, tools, or processes.
What Photonics Technicians Need to Know
Successful photonics technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Photonics Technicians Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Certified Laser Technician (Certified Laser Tech)
- Electro-Optics Technician (Electro-Optics Tech)
- Fiber Optics Assembler
- Fiber Optics Cabling Specialist
- Fiber Optics Design Technician (Fiber Optics Design Tech)
- Fiber Optics Instructor
- Fiber Optics Specialist
- Fiber Optics Splicer
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 301,131 photonics technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +1.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Photonics Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $106,964 |
| Hourly median | $51.43 |
| 10th percentile | $71,630 |
| 25th percentile | $89,297 |
| 75th percentile | $124,631 |
| 90th percentile | $142,298 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Photonics Technicians Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,120 |
| New Mexico | $107,310 |
| Maryland | $104,830 |
| Maine | $101,500 |
| Rhode Island | $98,340 |
| Washington | $96,120 |
| Virginia | $95,640 |
| Hawaii | $90,380 |
| Nevada | $88,860 |
| California | $83,350 |
| Connecticut | $82,700 |
| New Jersey | $81,550 |
| Alabama | $81,060 |
| Indiana | $80,830 |
| Wyoming | $79,790 |
| Mississippi | $79,790 |
| Oklahoma | $79,020 |
| Illinois | $78,730 |
| Minnesota | $78,490 |
| North Dakota | $77,940 |
| Alaska | $77,800 |
| Oregon | $75,130 |
| West Virginia | $74,960 |
| Colorado | $74,360 |
| North Carolina | $74,210 |
| South Carolina | $73,890 |
| Florida | $72,790 |
| Texas | $72,550 |
| Missouri | $71,050 |
| New Hampshire | $70,730 |
| Ohio | $68,170 |
| Michigan | $66,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,980 |
| Delaware | $65,930 |
| Massachusetts | $65,890 |
| Wisconsin | $65,790 |
| Louisiana | $65,740 |
| Utah | $64,680 |
| Tennessee | $64,590 |
| Kentucky | $64,360 |
| New York | $64,080 |
| Arkansas | $63,980 |
| Iowa | $63,960 |
| Idaho | $63,920 |
| Arizona | $63,570 |
| Georgia | $60,960 |
| Montana | $60,600 |
| Nebraska | $60,310 |
| Kansas | $60,130 |
| Vermont | $58,350 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,090 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for photonics technicians shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $85,167 | 21.0% | 1.30 |
| Middle Atlantic | $81,360 | 13.9% | 1.21 |
| New England | $80,755 | 5.7% | 1.63 |
| Southeast | $75,712 | 25.1% | 1.35 |
| Southwest | $73,140 | 15.5% | 1.46 |
| Great Lakes | $71,587 | 8.4% | 0.57 |
| Rocky Mountains | $69,042 | 5.1% | 1.23 |
| Plains States | $67,441 | 5.2% | 0.92 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $107,580 | 1,070 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $107,580 | 1,460 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $103,850 | 1,160 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $102,340 | 800 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $101,230 | 550 |
| Lexington Park, MD | MD | $100,770 | 530 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $98,610 | 300 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | CA | $96,980 | 40 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of photonics technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 19,500 | $70,520 |
| Manufacturing | 17,150 | $68,010 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,460 | $66,920 |
| Educational Services | 1,380 | $63,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,360 | $77,840 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,030 | $83,620 |
| Wholesale Trade | 950 | $66,870 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 750 | $86,450 |
Below are examples of industries where photonics technicians work:
Software Photonics Technicians Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for photonics technicians reflects the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Photonics Technicians
Entry-level photonics technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Electrical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Mechanical Engineers (Supplemental)
- Mechatronics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Microsystems Engineers (Supplemental)
- Photonics Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Robotics Engineers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for photonics technicians often complete programs in:
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
30 programs across 13 majors
- Environmental Control Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
- Industrial Production Technology
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Electronics Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- General Engineering Technology
- Engineering-Related Technologies
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mining & Petroleum Technology
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-3029.08 (Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other).
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