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Photonics Engineers
Photonics Engineers design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Table of Contents
Job description
Photonics Engineers design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
- Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
- Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
- Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
- Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
Salary
Photonics Engineers with little to no experience tend to make between $50750 and $69890 while the more experienced ones can earn over $126200 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| DC | $64 | $132,530 |
| MD | $57 | $118,420 |
| VA | $57 | $118,390 |
| AL | $56 | $115,710 |
| NJ | $55 | $114,990 |
One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Photonics Engineer is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Photonics Engineers are DC, MD, VA, AL and NJ.
However, a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.
Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Photonics Engineer is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.
Requirements
We asked other Photonics Engineers what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelor’s Degree followed by a Master’s Degree.
Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
| Engineering, General |
| Architectural Engineering |
| Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering |
| Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering |
| Laser and Optical Engineering |
Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Photonics Engineer.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally |
| Suitable for people who values achievements and are results-oriented |
| This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors. |
| Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers) |
| CONS |
|---|
| Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others |
| It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career. |
| Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week) |
What is the job like
70% of Photonics Engineers said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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Learn more about Photonics Engineers
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Related career information
Photonics Engineers job description, Photonics Engineers salary, Photonics Engineers information, what is the job of a Photonics Engineer like, pros and cons about Photonics Engineers, colleges and universities for Photonics Engineers, is Photonics Engineers the right career for me, careers in Architecture and Engineering
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