What Does it Take to Be a Photonics Engineer?
Occupation Description Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Daily Life Of a Photonics Engineer
- Determine applications of photonics appropriate to meet product objectives or features.
- Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
- Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.
- Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
- Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
- Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
Photonics Engineer Needed Skills
These are the skills Photonics Engineers say are the most useful in their careers:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Electro-optics Engineer
- Photonics Engineer
- Laser Systems Engineer
- Optical Design Engineer
- Optical Specialist
Is There Going to be Demand for Photonics Engineers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 132,500 jobs in the United States for Photonics Engineer. 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.
Photonics Engineer Salary
The salary for Photonics Engineers ranges between about $50,750 and $155,650 a year.
Photonics Engineers who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Photonics Engineers make in each U.S. state?
| 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
How to Become a Photonics Engineer
Individuals working as a Photonics Engineer have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Photonics Engineer?
Who Employs Photonics Engineers?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
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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