Career profile · 17-3029
Photonics Technicians
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
What the work can involve
- Compute or record photonic test data.
- Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.
- Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices.
- Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.
- Set up or operate assembly or processing equipment, such as lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature or humidity chambers, or optical spectrum analyzers.
- Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
Selected core tasks from O*NET 31.0. Responsibilities vary by employer, specialization and experience.
Preparation and entry routes
This broad O*NET group commonly involves vocational training, related experience or an associate-level route. It does not mean every course in a related subject meets the requirements.
Check the route for the specific occupation where you plan to work. Education, employer experience requirements, occupational licensing and industry certification can be separate steps.
Understand the different credentials →Skills used in this occupation
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Knowledge to build
- Engineering and Technology
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- English Language
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Common work activities
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Documenting/Recording Information
Selected from the highest importance ratings available in O*NET 31.0. These describe the occupation, not a particular school's curriculum.
Training subjects to investigate
The federal education-to-occupation crosswalk connects this role to the subjects below. These links do not endorse a school or guarantee that any particular award qualifies a graduate for the job.
- Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians86 institutions →
- Laser and Optical Technology/Technician28 institutions →
- Audio Engineering Technology/Technician9 institutions →
- Biomedical Technology/Technician99 institutions →
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering Technology/Technician183 institutions →
- Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other23 institutions →
- Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology/Technician40 institutions →
- Metallurgical Technology/Technician7 institutions →
- Welding Engineering Technology/Technician29 institutions →
- Chemical Engineering Technology/Technician9 institutions →
- Composite Materials Technology/Technician10 institutions →
- Marine Engineering Technology/Technician4 institutions →
- Motorsports Engineering Technology/Technician1 institutions →
- Mining Technology/Technician8 institutions →
- Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology/Technician12 institutions →
- Computer Engineering Technology/Technician79 institutions →
- Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician95 institutions →
- Computer Hardware Technology/Technician7 institutions →
- Computer Software Technology/Technician21 institutions →
- Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other3 institutions →
- Nuclear Engineering Technology/Technician12 institutions →
- Energy Systems Technology/Technician148 institutions →
- Power Plant Technology/Technician5 institutions →
- Solar Energy Technology/Technician55 institutions →
- Wind Energy Technology/Technician12 institutions →
- Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians, Other3 institutions →
Working conditions to consider
These are the most common published responses to selected O*NET work-setting questions. They describe occupation-level survey findings, not every employer or a particular job.
| Work-setting question | Most common response | Share giving that response |
|---|---|---|
| Contact With Others | Contact with others most of the time | 38.1%08/2024 · sample 21 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | Once a year or more but not every month | 22.7%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | Never | 90.9%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | Once a week or more but not every day | 27.3%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Spend Time Sitting | About half the time | 50.0%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Spend Time Standing | About half the time | 45.5%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | Continually or almost continually | 50.0%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Time Pressure | Once a week or more but not every day | 40.9%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | Every day | 54.5%08/2024 · sample 22 |
| Work Schedules | Regular (established routine, set schedule) | 72.7%08/2024 · sample 22 |
O*NET 31.0 Work Context, selected topics. Only unsuppressed source responses with sample size at least 10 are shown. A most-common response need not be a majority. Sampling uncertainty applies; source dates vary. Ask employers about actual schedules, accessibility, protective equipment and working conditions.
Software used in the workplace
Use these O*NET examples to ask how a course builds practical digital skills. They are workplace examples, not a required shopping list or confirmation of a school’s curriculum.
- Analytical or scientific software: Data acquisition software, Statistical analysis software, The MathWorks MATLAB
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, ZEMAX Optical Design Program
- Data base user interface and query software: Database software, Microsoft Access
- Development environment software: National Instruments LabVIEW
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Image processing software
- Internet browser software: Web browser software
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word
Selected categories and examples from O*NET 31.0 Software Skills. Products and employer requirements change. These examples are not endorsements; check the complete official occupation profile.
Pay & employment outlook
Salary estimates for photonics technicians
This O*NET specialty shares the BLS 17-3029 occupation series. Pay is measured for Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, not separately for this specialty.
The median divides workers into two equally sized groups by pay. It is not a starting salary, a school’s graduate outcome or a promise of employment. Lower percentiles are not automatically new graduates.
National outlook: 2025–2035
- Typical education for entry
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- Typical on-the-job training
- None
BLS national employment projections, 2025–2035. Openings include people leaving occupations or the labor force; these are not advertised vacancies. Education categories describe typical entry, not legal eligibility or a guarantee that any specific program is sufficient.
Compare wages across 50 state/DC estimates
| State | Annual median | Hourly median | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,650 | $35.89 | 690 |
| Alaska | $89,810 | $43.18 | 380 |
| Arizona | $59,580 | $28.64 | 990 |
| Arkansas | $68,060 | $32.72 | 230 |
| California | $80,480 | $38.69 | 7,330 |
| Colorado | $76,110 | $36.59 | 1,260 |
| Connecticut | $74,870 | $36.00 | 1,300 |
| Delaware | $75,780 | $36.43 | Not published |
| District of Columbia | Not published | Not published | 470 |
| Florida | $70,500 | $33.89 | 2,820 |
| Georgia | $68,370 | $32.87 | 1,890 |
| Hawaii | $90,040 | $43.29 | 410 |
| Idaho | $65,790 | $31.63 | 260 |
| Illinois | $79,800 | $38.37 | 940 |
| Indiana | $88,880 | $42.73 | 480 |
| Iowa | $63,120 | $30.35 | 380 |
| Kansas | $61,710 | $29.67 | 920 |
| Kentucky | $65,660 | $31.57 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $58,960 | $28.35 | 2,110 |
| Maine | $107,060 | $51.47 | 810 |
| Maryland | $99,970 | $48.06 | 2,630 |
| Massachusetts | $67,450 | $32.43 | 990 |
| Michigan | $73,960 | $35.56 | 1,130 |
| Minnesota | $81,290 | $39.08 | 670 |
| Mississippi | $79,350 | $38.15 | 350 |
| Missouri | $72,320 | $34.77 | 590 |
| Montana | $65,730 | $31.60 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $67,200 | $32.31 | 260 |
| Nevada | $93,670 | $45.03 | 590 |
| New Hampshire | $76,720 | $36.89 | 340 |
| New Jersey | $87,450 | $42.04 | 880 |
| New Mexico | $101,750 | $48.92 | 1,390 |
| New York | $65,530 | $31.50 | 2,000 |
| North Carolina | $72,070 | $34.65 | 1,530 |
| North Dakota | $80,990 | $38.94 | 100 |
| Ohio | $77,590 | $37.30 | 1,340 |
| Oklahoma | $81,330 | $39.10 | 870 |
| Oregon | $76,960 | $37.00 | 1,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,930 | $33.14 | 1,610 |
| Rhode Island | $94,570 | $45.46 | 380 |
| South Carolina | $80,540 | $38.72 | 620 |
| Tennessee | $58,700 | $28.22 | 990 |
| Texas | $73,860 | $35.51 | 7,110 |
| Utah | $79,370 | $38.16 | 920 |
| Vermont | $52,770 | $25.37 | 130 |
| Virginia | $98,410 | $47.31 | 3,720 |
| Washington | $99,720 | $47.94 | 2,310 |
| West Virginia | $81,330 | $39.10 | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $74,940 | $36.03 | 480 |
| Wyoming | $79,440 | $38.19 | 130 |
Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan wages
Search the 246 published local-area estimates for this occupation. Metropolitan areas can cross state lines; a city’s postal name is not necessarily the statistical area’s name.
Sources: BLS May 2025 OEWS public downloads and 2025–2035 employment projections, retrieved September 9, 2026. Unpublished estimates stay unavailable. “+” means BLS’s upper reporting threshold ($239,200 annually or $115 hourly). Wages exclude self-employment and nonwage benefits. How to interpret these figures.
Compare the route and prepare for work
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- Explore other careers by interest →
- Prepare your foundation skills →
- Build a first-job and progression plan →
Questions to test the fit
- What does an entry-level working day look like, and how does it differ from the experienced role described here?
- Which tasks, work environments and schedules would I enjoy or find difficult?
- What education, supervised practice and credentials do local employers actually request?
- Can I speak with someone in the occupation or arrange a suitable workplace visit?
- How does the complete training cost compare with my realistic budget and available routes?
Related occupations to compare
- Architectural and Civil Drafters→
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- Calibration Technologists and Technicians→
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians→
- Commercial and Industrial Designers→
- Computer Programmers→
Related through shared training-subject mappings. Entry requirements can differ substantially.
Sources and attribution
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. Trade School Guides selects and organizes the material and adds explanatory guidance. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. Occupation code: 17-3029.08.
Training connections: CIP 2020–SOC 2018 crosswalk. Snapshot: September 8, 2026. See the methodology.