Careers / Photonics Technicians
Photonics Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$78,350
United States, 2025
Employment
59,930
United States, 2025
Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$47,030
25th percentile
$60,390
75th percentile
$99,310
90th percentile
$118,330
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Active Listening3.4
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.4
- Operations Monitoring3.4
- Equipment Maintenance3.3
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.3
- Troubleshooting3.1
- Writing3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 16 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
16
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.4 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.3 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Repairing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $39,460
Compare with Photonics TechniciansSupplemental
National median $84,890
Compare with Photonics TechniciansSupplemental
National median $74,510
Compare with Photonics TechniciansSupplemental
National median $130,220
Compare with Photonics TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | $108,850 | 750 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $108,010 | 1,160 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $107,140 | 930 | 2025 |
| ME | $107,060 | 810 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $105,560 | 450 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $103,110 | 160 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $101,770 | 610 | 2025 |
| NM | $101,750 | 1,390 | 2025 |
| MD | $99,970 | 2,630 | 2025 |
| WA | $99,720 | 2,310 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $99,540 | 1,660 | 2025 |
| VA | $98,410 | 3,720 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $97,470 | 30 | 2025 |
| Charleston, WV | $96,510 | 90 | 2025 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $96,100 | 60 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | $94,810 | 330 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | $94,570 | 430 | 2025 |
| RI | $94,570 | 380 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | $94,520 | 150 | 2025 |
| NV | $93,670 | 590 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Photonics Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.