What do they do?
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
Also known as:
Algorithm Developer, Laser Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Optical Engineer, Optical Specialist, Optical Systems Engineer, Optoelectronics Engineer, Research and Development Engineer (R and D Engineer), Research Engineer
No Data Available
-
1.4%
Change
Ranks #40 in job growth rate450Job Openings
Ranks #9 in net job growth
Search
Search
Looking for colleges that offer a specific major? Use the College Match Tool to find your best-matched schools and discover your estimated Net Price!
- Bachelor's degree (50%)
- Master's degree (26%)
- Doctorate or Professional Degree (8%)
- Some college, no degree (7%)
- Associate's degree (6%)
- High school diploma equivalent (4%)
- Less than high school diploma (1%)
Most Popular Majors that prepare Photonics Engineers
-
#1
-
Degrees Granted
504
-
Female Students
132
-
Male Students
372
-
Median Starting Salary
$64,763
-
-
#2
-
Degrees Granted
185
-
Female Students
51
-
Male Students
134
-
Median Starting Salary
$64,763
-
-
#3
-
Degrees Granted
152
-
Female Students
35
-
Male Students
117
-
Median Starting Salary
$64,763
-
-
#4
-
Degrees Granted
152
-
Female Students
21
-
Male Students
131
-
Median Starting Salary
$66,400
-
-
#5
-
Degrees Granted
99
-
Female Students
22
-
Male Students
77
-
Median Starting Salary
$64,763
-
People in this career often have these skills:
- 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.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
People in this career often know a lot about:
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
People in this career often have talent in:
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
People in this career often do these activities:
- Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
- Design electronic or computer equipment or instrumentation.
- Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
- Create physical models or prototypes.
- Prepare detailed work plans.
- Update technical knowledge.
- Prepare research or technical reports.
- Write reports or evaluations.
- Prepare proposal documents.
- Identify new applications for existing technologies.
- Research advanced engineering designs or applications.
- Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
- Fabricate devices or components.
- Maintain operational records or records systems.
- Document technical design details.
- Direct industrial production activities.
- Design energy production or management equipment or systems.
- Design industrial processing systems.
- Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.
- Operate industrial equipment.
- Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
This page includes data from:
Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database
by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA
Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.
