What You Need to Know About Photonics Engineer
Position Description Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Life As a Photonics Engineer: What Do They Do?
- Design gas lasers, solid state lasers, infrared, or other light emitting or light sensitive devices.
- Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
- Assist in the transition of photonic prototypes to production.
- Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
- Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
- Develop photonics sensing or manufacturing technologies to improve the efficiency of manufacturing or related processes.
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Skills Needed to be a Photonics Engineer
Below is a list of the skills most Photonics Engineers say are important on the job.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Other Photonics Engineer Job Titles
- Optics Engineer
- Laser Systems Engineer
- Optical Systems Engineer
- Optical Specialist
- Optomechanical Engineer
Job Demand for Photonics Engineers
In the United States, there were 132,500 jobs for Photonics Engineer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 8,500 new jobs for Photonics Engineer by 2026. There will be an estimated 9,500 positions for Photonics Engineer per year.

The states with the most job growth for Photonics Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Photonics Engineer
The average yearly salary of a Photonics Engineer ranges between $50,750 and $155,650.

Photonics Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Photonics Engineers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $115,710 |
Alaska | $114,040 |
Arizona | $94,450 |
Arkansas | $71,510 |
California | $107,700 |
Colorado | $111,610 |
Connecticut | $100,230 |
District of Columbia | $132,530 |
Florida | $82,970 |
Georgia | $93,580 |
Hawaii | $96,940 |
Idaho | $110,270 |
Illinois | $87,220 |
Indiana | $73,340 |
Iowa | $78,230 |
Kansas | $82,060 |
Kentucky | $79,690 |
Louisiana | $90,580 |
Maine | $85,800 |
Maryland | $118,420 |
Massachusetts | $109,220 |
Michigan | $90,420 |
Minnesota | $101,620 |
Mississippi | $79,630 |
Missouri | $86,850 |
Montana | $79,590 |
Nebraska | $82,760 |
Nevada | $94,950 |
New Hampshire | $99,070 |
New Jersey | $114,990 |
New Mexico | $114,790 |
New York | $95,270 |
North Carolina | $83,900 |
North Dakota | $83,270 |
Ohio | $93,370 |
Oklahoma | $83,080 |
Oregon | $90,720 |
Pennsylvania | $96,550 |
Rhode Island | $95,790 |
South Carolina | $100,750 |
South Dakota | $84,320 |
Tennessee | $82,030 |
Texas | $113,370 |
Utah | $89,810 |
Vermont | $81,960 |
Virginia | $118,390 |
Washington | $104,890 |
West Virginia | $91,420 |
Wisconsin | $86,600 |
Wyoming | $97,040 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Photonics Engineers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Photonics Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Microsoft .NET Framework
- Mathsoft Mathcad
- C#
- C++
- Pattern recognition software
- Spectroscopy software
Becoming a Photonics Engineer
What kind of Photonics Engineer requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

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References:
Image Credit: NASA via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.