Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for optical engineering technicians in the United States
Are optical engineering technician jobs in demand?
Optical engineering technician job and salary trends over time
Optical engineering technician jobs over time
Optical engineering technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 68 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 70 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 105 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 97 | 0.00% |
Average optical engineering technician salary over time
Optical engineering technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $54,224 | $26.07 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $53,110 | $25.53 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $52,309 | $25.15 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $51,506 | $24.76 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $51,589 | $24.80 | +1.7% |
Optical engineering technician jobs by state
Most common states for optical engineering technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 239 | 34% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 192 | 26% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 232 | 24% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,606 | 23% |
| 5 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 304 | 23% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 294 | 22% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 233 | 22% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 158 | 21% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,113 | 20% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 823 | 20% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 632 | 20% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,556 | 18% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,327 | 18% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 976 | 18% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 643 | 18% |
| 16 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 187 | 18% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 107 | 18% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 545 | 17% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 317 | 17% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 145 | 17% |
Most common cities for optical engineering technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | 1 | 3% | $40,215 |
| 2 | Carlsbad | 1 | 1% | $64,948 |
| 3 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $70,912 |
Optical Engineering Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of optical engineering technician experts
University of Maryland
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Optical Engineering Technicians?
Mohammad Modarres Ph.D.: There has been a shortage of nuclear engineering workforce, and graduates have been in high demand. Considering the extensive uses of nuclear facilities and materials not only for design, fabrication, operation, and manufacturing in nuclear plants, but also in defense, national laboratories, and health settings, while employment like any other engineering field slowed down due to the pandemic, I expect it to remain healthy and vital in the future.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Optical Engineering Technicians to find work opportunities?
Mohammad Modarres Ph.D.: The nuclear power workforce is aging, and utilities that own nuclear plants have been the primary employer, followed by DOE (including national labs.), NRC, Navy, and Radiation (health) facility manufacturers. As nuclear plants age and are decommissioned, the utility owners would need fewer atomic engineers. But, I expect employment at the governmental, nuclear facility vendors, and other institutions will remain unchanged.