Photonics Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Photonics Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $78,350 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 59,930. Wage data is published for 237 locations.
Occupation description
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
O*NET code
17-3029.08
Job zone
3
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$78,350
Hourly median
$37.67
Employment
59,930
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Active Listening | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.12 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Compute or record photonic test data.
Technology
- Microsoft Office software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Data acquisition software
- Database software
- Image processing software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- SAP software
- Statistical analysis software
Photonics Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Photonics Technicians Salary in CAMedian $80,480 · Employment 7,330
- Photonics Technicians Salary in TXMedian $73,860 · Employment 7,110
- Photonics Technicians Salary in VAMedian $98,410 · Employment 3,720
- Photonics Technicians Salary in Houston, TXMedian $76,120 · Employment 2,860
- Photonics Technicians Salary in FLMedian $70,500 · Employment 2,820
- Photonics Technicians Salary in MDMedian $99,970 · Employment 2,630
- Photonics Technicians Salary in WAMedian $99,720 · Employment 2,310
- Photonics Technicians Salary in LAMedian $58,960 · Employment 2,110
- Photonics Technicians Salary in NYMedian $65,530 · Employment 2,000
- Photonics Technicians Salary in GAMedian $68,370 · Employment 1,890
- Photonics Technicians Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $69,890 · Employment 1,770
- Photonics Technicians Salary in Washington, DCMedian $99,540 · Employment 1,660
Related careers
- Mechanical EngineersNational median $104,110
- Robotics EngineersNational median $122,930
- Electrical EngineersNational median $120,630
- Ophthalmic Laboratory TechniciansNational median $39,460
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation EquipmentNational median $84,890
- Mechatronics EngineersNational median $122,930
- Automotive Engineering TechniciansNational median $74,510
- Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerNational median $130,220
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.