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Optics/Optical Sciences

Types of Degrees Optics/Optical Sciences Majors Are Earning

Those studying Optics/Optical Sciences can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	45
Master’s Degree	135
Doctor’s Degree	69

What Optics/Optical Sciences Majors Need to Know

Studies in Optics/Optical Sciences develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Optics/Optical Sciences graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Optics/Optical Sciences emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Optics/Optical Sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Optics/Optical Sciences careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Optics/Optical Sciences graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.3 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Processing Information	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Optics/Optical Sciences professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓
StataCorp Stata	Analytical or scientific software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
Clinical trial management software	Data base user interface and query software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Optics/Optical Sciences graduates include:

• Clinical Project Manager
• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Trials Manager
• Clinical Trial Manager
• Clinical Research Monitor
• Postdoctoral Researcher
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Research Director
• Clinical Trial Coordinator
• Postdoctoral Associate
• Clinical Program Coordinator
• Clinical Coordinator
• Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
• Clinical Manager
• Oncology Clinical Research Coordinator

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Optics/Optical Sciences graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	32.9%
Doctoral degree	23.0%
Master’s degree	14.8%
Post-doctoral training	13.4%
Postsecondary certificate	4.7%
Some college courses	3.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.9%
Post-master’s certificate	0.9%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Optics/Optical Sciences?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 75.9% of Optics/Optical Sciences degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	60	24.1%
Men	189	75.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Optics/Optical Sciences graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	117	47.0%
Asian	18	7.2%
Hispanic or Latino	24	9.6%
Black or African American	2	0.8%
Two or More Races	6	2.4%
Race Unknown	14	5.6%
International Students	68	27.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Optics/Optical Sciences Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Optics/Optical Sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$50,456
4 years	$75,002
5 years	$86,291

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $86,291 — roughly 71% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Optics/Optical Sciences Programs

Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Optics/Optical Sciences. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Master’s	1	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Optics/Optical Sciences Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Optics/Optical Sciences graduates earn a median of $75,002 four years after completion — roughly 97% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Physics	40.08
Acoustics	40.0809
Atomic/Molecular Physics	40.0802
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics	40.0808
Elementary Particle Physics	40.0804
Nuclear Physics	40.0806
Physics, General	40.0801
Physics, Other	40.0899
Plasma and High-Temperature Physics	40.0805
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics	40.0810
Physics and Astronomy	40.1101
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other	40.0299

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.