Photonics Technicians in California
Want to work as a Photonics Technicians in California? Below are the key facts. All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.
What do Photonics Technicians Make in California?
For photonics technicians working in California, wages run about $83,350 per year (or roughly $40.07/hour).Earnings range from $50,580 at the 10th percentile to $126,690 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 |
| 25th percentile | $63,720 | $30.64 |
| Median (50th) | $83,350 | $40.07 |
| 75th percentile | $104,040 | $50.02 |
| 90th percentile | $126,690 | $60.91 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California compared to the national average — is 1.04.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, photonics technicians earn a median of $106,964 per year ($51.43/hour), lower than the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 301,131 photonics technicians nationwide. In California alone, approximately 7,840 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 680 photonics technicians.
Top California Metros for Photonics Technicians
The largest metro-area employers of photonics technicians in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,940 | $73,480 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,490 | $90,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,440 | $94,800 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 550 | $101,230 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 510 | $82,780 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 420 | $81,460 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 300 | $98,610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 210 | $79,340 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 110 | $80,520 |
| Fresno, CA | 80 | $80,020 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 60 | $76,590 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 50 | $81,120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 50 | $77,870 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 40 | $96,980 |
| Vallejo, CA | 30 | $88,990 |
Top States for Photonics Technicians Employment
The table below shows the states where the most photonics technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 8,570 |
| California | 7,840 |
| Virginia | 3,810 |
| Maryland | 2,680 |
| Florida | 2,440 |
| Washington | 2,310 |
| New York | 2,200 |
| Georgia | 2,140 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,120 |
| Louisiana | 2,020 |
| Ohio | 1,460 |
| North Carolina | 1,400 |
| Colorado | 1,320 |
| Michigan | 1,290 |
| Illinois | 1,160 |
| Oregon | 1,110 |
| Utah | 1,090 |
| Massachusetts | 1,080 |
| New Jersey | 1,060 |
| Kansas | 970 |
Highest-Paying States for Photonics Technicians
These states pay the most for photonics technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,120 |
| New Mexico | $107,310 |
| Maryland | $104,830 |
| Maine | $101,500 |
| Rhode Island | $98,340 |
| Washington | $96,120 |
| Virginia | $95,640 |
| Hawaii | $90,380 |
| Nevada | $88,860 |
| California | $83,350 |
Skills
The most important photonics technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for photonics technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, photonics technicians typically:
- 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.
- Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as necessary.
- Assemble fiber optical, optoelectronic, or free-space optics components, subcomponents, assemblies, or subassemblies.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Working with Computers
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Processing Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Environmental Control Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
- Industrial Production Technology
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Electronics Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- General Engineering Technology
- Engineering-Related Technologies
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mining & Petroleum Technology
- Military Applied Sciences
- Military Systems & Maintenance
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to photonics technicians include:
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Microsystems Engineers
- Photonics Engineers
Also Known As
Certified Laser Technician (Certified Laser Tech), Electro-Optics Technician (Electro-Optics Tech), Fiber Optics Assembler, Fiber Optics Cabling Specialist, Fiber Optics Design Technician (Fiber Optics Design Tech), Fiber Optics Instructor, Fiber Optics Specialist, Fiber Optics Splicer, Fiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech), Fiber Splicer, Fiber Technician (Fiber Tech), Healthcare Laser Technician (Healthcare Laser Tech), Installation Technician (Installation Tech), Laser Assembly Technician (Laser Assembly Tech), Laser Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 17-3029.08
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