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The differences between optical engineers and senior engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior engineer has an average salary of $108,743, which is higher than the $99,814 average annual salary of an optical engineer.
The top three skills for an optical engineer include zemax, data analysis and optical components. The most important skills for a senior engineer are java, python, and architecture.
| Optical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $99,814 | $108,743 |
| Hourly rate | $47.99 | $52.28 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 26,628 | 343,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| 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.
A senior engineer is responsible for overseeing all operations within a designated area. With years of experience and expertise, a senior engineer may take charge of establishing goals, deadlines, and budgets for a particular project. They must devise and implement strategies that would improve the quality of workflow and deliver significant results. Furthermore, a senior manager must also supervise a team of skilled engineers, leading them in the joint effort to reach the company's vision and mission, all while adhering to the safety standards and regulations.
Optical engineers and senior engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average salary | $99,814 | $108,743 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $140,000 | Between $82,000 And $144,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Roku |
| Best paying industry | Telecommunication | Start-up |
There are a few differences between an optical engineer and a senior engineer in terms of educational background:
| Optical Engineer | Senior 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 | Michigan Technological University |
Here are the differences between optical engineers' and senior engineers' demographics:
| Optical Engineer | Senior Engineer | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 89.1% Female, 10.9% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.1% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |