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)
Microsystems Engineers
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Comparison table
| Metric | Photonics Technicians | Microsystems Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| National median salary | $78,350 | $122,930 |
| Local median salary | Not published | Not published |
| National employment | 59,930 | 154,070 |
| Typical education | Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | Master's Degree |
| Job zone | 3 | 5 |
| Important skills | Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring | Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Writing |
| Related careers | Mechanical Engineers, Robotics Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | Semiconductor Processing Technicians, Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment, Calibration Technologists and Technicians |
Career transition: skill overlap
Skill overlap
57%
13 of 23 target skills
Target-only skills
10
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
- Critical Thinking+0.5 level
- Active Listening+0.8 level
- Reading Comprehension+1.0 level
- Complex Problem Solving+1.0 level
- Writing+0.9 level
- Monitoring+0.5 level
- Judgment and Decision Making+0.6 level
- Speaking+0.9 level
- Active Learning+0.5 level
- Time Management+0.6 level
- Operations Monitoring+0.3 level
- Quality Control Analysis—
- Coordination+0.1 level
Only in Microsystems Engineers
- Systems Analysis
- Science
- Systems Evaluation
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Instructing
- Operations Analysis
- Social Perceptiveness
- Negotiation
- Service Orientation
Only in Photonics Technicians
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing