Architecture & Engineering
Photonics Technicians
Also called: Fiber Optics Instructor, Fiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech), Laser Technician (Laser Tech), Optics Technician (Optics Tech)
US median pay
$78,350
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+2.8%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
5,400
62,400 employed
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Test or perform failure analysis for optomechanical or optoelectrical products, according to test plans.
- Assist engineers in the development of new products, fixtures, tools, or processes.
- Recommend optical or optic equipment design or material changes to reduce costs or processing times.
- Set up or operate prototype or test apparatus, such as control consoles, collimators, recording equipment, or cables.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Quality Control Analysis3.4/5
- Operations Monitoring3.4/5
- Equipment Maintenance3.2/5
- Troubleshooting3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Repairing3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology3.9/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Mechanical3.4/5
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- English Language3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Associate's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Associate's degree41%
- High school diploma27%
- Bachelor's degree14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.