The median pay for Photonics Engineers is $122,930 a year ($59.10/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.7% through 2035, with about 8,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 17-2199
- Architecture and Engineering
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Photonics Engineer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $122,930a year, or $59.10/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $67KTop 10% $190K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.7%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 8,800166,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025166.7K
- Projected 2035173K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 166.7K Projected 2035 173K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Associate's4.8%
- Bachelor's52.4%
- Master's38.1%
- Doctorate4.8%
Highest education held by photonics engineers Segment Value Associate's 4.8% Bachelor's 52.4% Master's 38.1% Doctorate 4.8%
Also advertised as: Algorithm Developer, Laser Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Optical Engineer, Optical Specialist, Optical Systems Engineer.
Pay
How much do Photonics Engineers make?
Every photonics engineer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$122,930
Middle half earn $90,970 to $158,090
- 10th
- $66,810
- 25th
- $90,970
- 75th
- $158,090
- 90th
- $189,950
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,810 |
| 25th | $90,970 |
| Median | $122,930 |
| 75th | $158,090 |
| 90th | $189,950 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $122,930
- Median hourly wage
- $59.10/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $125,330
- People employed
- 154,070
Versus all US occupations
At $122,930, Photonics Engineers earn 141% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $71,950 a year.
Versus architecture and engineering occupations
Inside the Architecture and Engineering group, where the middle occupation pays $104,110, this is 18% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $189,950 or more while the bottom 10% earn $66,810, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 85% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Mexico pays the most at $162,070, and still leads at $175,758 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Photonics Engineers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Mexico | $162,070 | $175,758 | 2,190 |
| 2Alabama | $152,550 | $171,746 | 3,460 |
| 3District of Columbia | $151,920 | $138,234 | 3,560 |
| 4Virginia | $148,160 | $146,542 | 5,060 |
| 5Alaska | $142,390 | $139,108 | 200 |
| 6Washington | $134,570 | $125,751 | 3,580 |
| 7Colorado | $132,590 | $128,663 | 2,540 |
| 8New Jersey | $132,450 | $121,732 | 4,540 |
| 9Massachusetts | $131,260 | $124,115 | 2,850 |
| 10Idaho | $130,970 | $137,150 | 560 |
Job outlook
Is Photonics Engineer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Photonics Engineers | +3.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Photonics Engineers to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 6,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 8,800 openings are projected each year, 5.3% of the 166,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Photonics Engineer
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as photonics engineers.
- Bachelor's Degree52.4%
- Master's Degree38.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4.8%
- Doctoral Degree4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 52.4% |
| Master's Degree | 38.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Photonics Engineer do?
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Day-to-day tasks
- Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
- Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
- Determine applications of photonics appropriate to meet product objectives or features.
- Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
- Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
- Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
- Train operators, engineers, or other personnel.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Writing3.9
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Mathematics3.6
- Active Learning3.6
- Science3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Science | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Operations Analysis3.3
- Technology Design3.3
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.3 |
| Technology Design | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Photonics Engineer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Photonics Engineer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic5.9
- Investigative5.9
- Conventional4.0
- Artistic2.8
- Enterprising1.7
- Social1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Photonics Engineer
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
- Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Architecture and Engineering
More architecture and engineering careers
Median annual pay, with photonics engineers highlighted
- Aerospace Engineer$134,960
- Photonics Engineer$122,930
- Electrical Engineer$120,630
- Environmental Engineer$107,110
- Mechanical Engineer$104,110
- Automotive Engineer$104,110
- Industrial Engineer$102,440
- Civil Engineer$100,840
- Architect$99,280
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 |
| Photonics Engineer | $122,930 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 |
| Automotive Engineer | $104,110 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 |
| Architect | $99,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within photonics engineer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Photonics Engineer appears on
Questions
Photonics Engineer: frequently asked questions
How much do Photonics Engineers make?
Photonics Engineers earn a median of $122,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 141% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $59.10/hr. The middle half earn between $90,970 and $158,090. The top 10% earn $189,950 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Photonics Engineer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Photonics Engineers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.4% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Photonics Engineer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.7% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 8,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Photonics Engineer do?
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology. A core O*NET task: develop or test photonic prototypes or models. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Photonics Engineers the most?
The highest state medians for Photonics Engineers are New Mexico ($162,070), Alabama ($152,550), District of Columbia ($151,920) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Photonics Engineer?
O*NET scores Photonics Engineers highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTP, INTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.