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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.

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.

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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.

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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?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Are you already one of the many Photonics Engineer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: NASA via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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