Compare careers
Factual side-by-side attributes from the imported O*NET and BLS OEWS datasets. No career is ranked or recommended.
Career A (or your current career)
Photonics Technicians
Career B (or your target career)
Mechanical Engineers
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Comparison table
| Metric | Photonics Technicians | Mechanical Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| National median salary | $78,350 | $104,110 |
| Local median salary | Not published | Not published |
| National employment | 59,930 | 296,810 |
| Typical education | Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | Bachelor's Degree |
| Job zone | 3 | 4 |
| Important skills | Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring | Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Science, Mathematics |
| Related careers | Mechanical Engineers, Robotics Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers, Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers, Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers |
Career transition: skill overlap
Skill overlap
68%
13 of 19 target skills
Target-only skills
6
Current-only skills
3
Skill overlap compares O*NET skills rated at importance 3.0 or above for each occupation. It is a measure of listed skill overlap, not a probability of getting the job.
Shared skills
- Reading Comprehension+1.0 level
- Active Listening+0.5 level
- Critical Thinking+0.5 level
- Complex Problem Solving+1.3 level
- Judgment and Decision Making+1.0 level
- Active Learning+0.9 level
- Speaking+0.8 level
- Writing+0.9 level
- Monitoring+0.9 level
- Operations Monitoring+0.5 level
- Quality Control Analysis+0.5 level
- Coordination+0.4 level
- Time Management+0.4 level
Only in Mechanical Engineers
- Science
- Mathematics
- Operations Analysis
- Systems Evaluation
- Systems Analysis
- Technology Design
Only in Photonics Technicians
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing