Photonics Technicians

What do they do?

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

Also known as:

Fiber Optics Instructor, Fiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech), Laser Technician (Laser Tech), Optics Technician (Optics Tech), Optomechanical Technician (Optomechanical Tech), Photonics Laboratory Technician (Photonics Lab Tech), Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech), Ruling Technician (Ruling Tech)

Typical Wages

Wages$0$24K$48K$72K$96K$120KPercentiles10th25thMedian75th90th$47k$59k$77k$97k$114k

Projected Growth Rate

Little to no change

Employment of Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Projected Employment in OH

No Data Available
Employment202220321,7501,780
  • 1.7%

    Change

    Ranks #48 in job growth rate
    160

    Job Openings

    Ranks #14 in net job growth

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Some college, no degree  (29%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (23%)
  • Associate's degree  (20%)
  • Bachelor's degree  (20%)
  • Master's degree  (4%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (4%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Photonics Technicians

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People in this career often have these skills:

  • 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.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

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.
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • 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.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • 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).
  • Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Analyze test or validation data.
  • Document design or operational test results.
  • Maintain clean work areas.
  • Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
  • Maintain electronic equipment.
  • Assemble precision electronics or optical equipment.
  • Create physical models or prototypes.
  • Prepare procedural documents.
  • Install instrumentation or electronic equipment or systems.
  • Assist engineers or scientists with research.
  • Conduct quantitative failure analyses of operational data.
  • Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
  • Design electronic or computer equipment or instrumentation.
  • Develop technical methods or processes.
  • Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
  • Operate industrial equipment.
  • Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
  • Assemble equipment or components.
  • Create schematic drawings for electronics.
  • Prepare materials for processing.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
  • Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
  • Fabricate devices or components.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 29.3 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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