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The differences between optical engineers and electronics engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optical engineer has an average salary of $99,814, which is higher than the $93,985 average annual salary of an electronics engineer.
The top three skills for an optical engineer include zemax, data analysis and optical components. The most important skills for an electronics engineer are analog, RF, and power electronics.
| Optical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,814 | $93,985 |
| Hourly rate | $47.99 | $45.19 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 26,628 | 83,870 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
An Optical Engineer designs optical devices to be used in eyewear, telescopes, cameras, and lasers. They ensure that optical and electronic components meet all given specifications.
An electronics engineer specializes in designing and developing electronic components and systems, ensuring efficiency in all aspects. They are primarily responsible for conducting tests and maintenance for systems, identifying any faults or inconsistencies, and performing corrective measures right away. Moreover, an electronics engineer must coordinate with clients to consult them on their needs and meet with other skilled engineers to ensure optimal quality of equipment. An electronics engineer may also perform administrative tasks, mainly to produce progress reports and presentations, manage schedules, and craft instructional written materials for all electronic systems.
Optical engineers and electronics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,814 | $93,985 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $140,000 | Between $68,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Technology |
There are a few differences between an optical engineer and an electronics engineer in terms of educational background:
| Optical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Physics | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between optical engineers' and electronics engineers' demographics:
| Optical Engineer | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 27.1% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 15.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |