Photonics Engineers Career, Salary and Skills
Photonics Engineers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $122,930 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 154,070. Wage data is published for 301 locations.
Occupation description
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
O*NET code
17-2199.07
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$122,930
Hourly median
$59.10
Employment
154,070
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 5.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Mathematics | 3.62 | 4.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.62 | 5.00 |
| Science | 3.50 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.38 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.38 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
- Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
- Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
- Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
- Assist in the transition of photonic prototypes to production.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
- Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
- Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
Technology
- Adept Scientific GRAMS
- Apollo Photonics APSS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- BPM_CAD
- C
- C#
- C++
- Computer-aided drafting or design software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Debugging software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI software
Photonics Engineers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Photonics Engineers Salary in CAMedian $130,850 · Employment 28,610
- Photonics Engineers Salary in TXMedian $115,810 · Employment 10,820
- Photonics Engineers Salary in Washington, DCMedian $151,340 · Employment 9,230
- Photonics Engineers Salary in FLMedian $105,410 · Employment 8,600
- Photonics Engineers Salary in MIMedian $121,000 · Employment 7,700
- Photonics Engineers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $125,060 · Employment 7,530
- Photonics Engineers Salary in MDMedian $129,770 · Employment 7,340
- Photonics Engineers Salary in OHMedian $120,470 · Employment 7,000
- Photonics Engineers Salary in LAMedian $99,070 · Employment 6,310
- Photonics Engineers Salary in Detroit, MIMedian $126,250 · Employment 5,800
- Photonics Engineers Salary in New York, NYMedian $135,300 · Employment 5,780
- Photonics Engineers Salary in NYMedian $117,600 · Employment 5,760
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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.