Photonics Technicians
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
- O*NET-SOC code
17-3029.08 - Preparation Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Wages
BLS doesn't publish wages for Photonics Technicians separately. These are the figures for Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (17-3029), its parent occupation.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,030 | $60,390 | $78,350 | $99,310 | $118,330 |
By state (50)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 690 | $74,650 | 0.85 |
| Alaska | 380 | $89,810 | 3.07 |
| Arizona | 990 | $59,580 | 0.79 |
| Arkansas | 230 | $68,060 | 0.45 |
| California | 7,330 | $80,480 | 1.04 |
| Colorado | 1,260 | $76,110 | 1.14 |
| Connecticut | 1,300 | $74,870 | 1.99 |
| Delaware | $75,780 | ||
| District of Columbia | 470 | Not available | 1.73 |
| Florida | 2,820 | $70,500 | 0.74 |
| Georgia | 1,890 | $68,370 | 1.00 |
| Hawaii | 410 | $90,040 | 1.68 |
| Idaho | 260 | $65,790 | 0.78 |
| Illinois | 940 | $79,800 | 0.40 |
| Indiana | 480 | $88,880 | 0.39 |
| Iowa | 380 | $63,120 | 0.63 |
| Kansas | 920 | $61,710 | 1.67 |
| Kentucky | 380 | $65,660 | 0.49 |
| Louisiana | 2,110 | $58,960 | 2.83 |
| Maine | 810 | $107,060 | 3.29 |
| Maryland | 2,630 | $99,970 | 2.47 |
| Massachusetts | 990 | $67,450 | 0.71 |
| Michigan | 1,130 | $73,960 | 0.67 |
| Minnesota | 670 | $81,290 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | 350 | $79,350 | 0.77 |
| Missouri | 590 | $72,320 | 0.52 |
| Montana | 210 | $65,730 | 1.05 |
| Nebraska | 260 | $67,200 | 0.66 |
| Nevada | 590 | $93,670 | 0.98 |
| New Hampshire | 340 | $76,720 | 1.30 |
| New Jersey | 880 | $87,450 | 0.53 |
| New Mexico | 1,390 | $101,750 | 4.13 |
| New York | 2,000 | $65,530 | 0.54 |
| North Carolina | 1,530 | $72,070 | 0.80 |
| North Dakota | 100 | $80,990 | 0.62 |
| Ohio | 1,340 | $77,590 | 0.62 |
| Oklahoma | 870 | $81,330 | 1.33 |
| Oregon | 1,010 | $76,960 | 1.33 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,610 | $68,930 | 0.69 |
| Rhode Island | 380 | $94,570 | 1.96 |
| South Carolina | 620 | $80,540 | 0.70 |
| Tennessee | 990 | $58,700 | 0.78 |
| Texas | 7,110 | $73,860 | 1.31 |
| Utah | 920 | $79,370 | 1.38 |
| Vermont | 130 | $52,770 | 1.14 |
| Virginia | 3,720 | $98,410 | 2.35 |
| Washington | 2,310 | $99,720 | 1.69 |
| West Virginia | 450 | $81,330 | 1.66 |
| Wisconsin | 480 | $74,940 | 0.43 |
| Wyoming | 130 | $79,440 | 1.25 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Photonics Technicians, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | Science | 1.37 | 0.968 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | Operations Monitoring | 0.88 | 0.955 |
| Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers | Repairing | 0.88 | 0.945 |
| Nuclear Technicians | Operations Monitoring | 1.00 | 0.944 |
| Geothermal Technicians | Operations Monitoring | 0.88 | 0.944 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.942 |
| Gas Plant Operators | Operations Monitoring | 1.26 | 0.938 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.936 |
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | Repairing | 1.00 | 0.933 |
| Biomass Plant Technicians | Operations Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.932 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Photonics Technicians, excluding software Photonics Technicians already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Programmable logic controller PLC software | 7 of 20 | 15.4x |
| Dassault Systemes CATIA | 9 of 20 | 6.9x |
| Simulation software | 5 of 20 | 17.8x |
| Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software | 8 of 20 | 6.0x |
| PTC Creo Parametric | 7 of 20 | 7.5x |
| Rockwell RSLogix | 4 of 20 | 30.8x |
| MathWorks Simulink | 5 of 20 | 12.1x |
| C++ | 9 of 20 | 3.8x |
| Human machine interface HMI software | 4 of 20 | 18.5x |
| UNIX | 8 of 20 | 4.1x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.25 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Science | Essential skill | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.50 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.38 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.75 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.75 |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering and Technology | 3.91 | 4.55 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.81 | 4.68 |
| Mathematics | 3.45 | 4.27 |
| Mechanical | 3.41 | 4.45 |
| English Language | 3.23 | 3.45 |
| Production and Processing | 3.23 | 3.23 |
| Physics | 3.18 | 3.77 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.05 | 3.36 |
| Design | 2.91 | 3.77 |
| Administrative | 2.73 | 3.14 |
| Administration and Management | 2.64 | 2.95 |
| Telecommunications | 2.64 | 2.59 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.27 | 2.41 |
| Education and Training | 2.24 | 2.64 |
| Chemistry | 2.23 | 3.00 |
| Communications and Media | 2.09 | 2.27 |
| Building and Construction | 2.00 | 2.32 |
| Law and Government | 2.00 | 2.05 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.81 | 1.76 |
| Transportation | 1.76 | 1.68 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.73 | 1.09 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 1.68 | 1.59 |
| Foreign Language | 1.50 | 0.91 |
| Psychology | 1.43 | 1.05 |
| Geography | 1.36 | 1.14 |
| Biology | 1.36 | 0.91 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.18 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.14 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.14 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.09 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.09 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.05 | not rated |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.05 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Near Vision | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Information Ordering | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Oral Expression | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Written Expression | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Control Precision | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Visualization | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Number Facility | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.75 | 2.62 |
| Originality | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Depth Perception | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Time Sharing | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.38 | 2.75 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Reaction Time | 2.25 | 2.62 |
| Memorization | 2.25 | 2.38 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Static Strength | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Rate Control | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Response Orientation | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.75 | 1.12 |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.50 | 0.88 |
| Stamina | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.38 | 0.75 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.38 | 0.50 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.38 | 0.50 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.25 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.25 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Autodesk AutoCAD hot
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks hot
- Facebook hot
- Microsoft Access hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- SAP software hot
- The MathWorks MATLAB hot
- Data acquisition software
- Database software
- Image processing software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- Statistical analysis software
- Web browser software
- ZEMAX Optical Design Program
Where it concentrates
BLS doesn't publish wages for Photonics Technicians separately. These are the figures for Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (17-3029), its parent occupation.
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1,160 | 32.05 | $108,010 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 450 | 16.63 | $105,560 |
| Decatur, AL | 190 | 8.02 | $60,220 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 750 | 6.74 | $108,850 |
| Wichita, KS | 780 | 6.54 | $60,570 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 190 | 6.45 | $91,310 |
| Midland, TX | 300 | 6.37 | $59,490 |
| Yuma, AZ | 160 | 5.89 | $81,330 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | 200 | 5.62 | $88,710 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 610 | 4.64 | $101,770 |