Best cities for a photonics engineer
The best cities for photonics engineers are Albuquerque, NM, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for photonics engineers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for photonics engineers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a photonics engineer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for photonics engineers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for photonics engineers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a photonics engineer. While the absolute best city for photonics engineers is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for photonics engineers in 2024.
If you're looking for a photonics engineer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for photonics engineers in 2025
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total photonics engineer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $117,878 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location quotient: 28.51 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,533 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Phoenix, AZ
Total photonics engineer jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $111,463 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 15.25 5. Henderson, NV
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $113,023 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Austin, TX
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $107,104 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Reno, NV
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $118,341 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. San Antonio, TX
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $107,004 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Scottsdale, AZ
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $111,504 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $161,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Houston, TX
Total photonics engineer jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $106,983 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for photonics engineers
- Albuquerque, NM
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Phoenix, AZ
- Henderson, NV
- Austin, TX
- Reno, NV
- San Antonio, TX
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Houston, TX
- (2 photonics engineer jobs)
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- (5 photonics engineer jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a photonics engineer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $117,878 | $81,000 | 559,277 | 2 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $113,533 | $78,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $113,508 | $78,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $111,463 | $77,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $113,023 | $78,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $107,104 | $72,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $118,341 | $82,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $107,004 | $72,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 9 | Scottsdale, AZ | $111,504 | $77,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $106,983 | $72,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $111,462 | $77,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $106,011 | $72,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 13 | Mesa, AZ | $111,061 | $76,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 14 | Arlington, TX | $105,979 | $72,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 15 | Chandler, AZ | $110,987 | $76,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $105,822 | $72,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 17 | Gilbert, AZ | $110,950 | $76,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 18 | Irving, TX | $105,795 | $72,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 19 | Garland, TX | $105,588 | $72,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 20 | El Paso, TX | $107,981 | $74,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 21 | Plano, TX | $105,456 | $72,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 22 | Lubbock, TX | $107,026 | $73,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 23 | Corpus Christi, TX | $105,737 | $70,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $109,129 | $75,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 25 | Laredo, TX | $105,529 | $70,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 26 | Durham, NC | $92,777 | $63,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 27 | Wichita, KS | $102,099 | $70,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 28 | Seattle, WA | $112,469 | $80,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $94,488 | $66,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $110,831 | $76,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $90,537 | $63,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 32 | Fremont, CA | $112,347 | $78,000 | 233,136 | 7 |
| 33 | New Orleans, LA | $99,293 | $65,000 | 391,495 | - |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | $93,023 | $63,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 35 | Toledo, OH | $92,851 | $65,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 36 | Anchorage, AK | $103,366 | $77,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 37 | Lexington, KY | $89,881 | $62,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 38 | Columbus, OH | $92,636 | $64,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $91,775 | $63,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 40 | Louisville, KY | $89,186 | $62,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 41 | Chicago, IL | $99,567 | $70,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $91,260 | $62,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 43 | San Francisco, CA | $112,680 | $78,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 44 | Oakland, CA | $112,582 | $78,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 45 | Sacramento, CA | $112,556 | $78,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 46 | Jersey City, NJ | $105,911 | $73,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 47 | San Jose, CA | $112,163 | $77,000 | 1,025,350 | 5 |
| 48 | Newark, NJ | $105,868 | $73,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 49 | Stockton, CA | $112,279 | $78,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 50 | Charlotte, NC | $90,789 | $61,000 | 842,051 | - |
Highest paying cities for photonics engineers
| Rank | City | Avg. photonics engineer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $117,878 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $112,469 |
| 3 | Dublin, CA | $112,417 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $111,463 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $110,831 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $107,104 |
| 7 | Newark, DE | $101,300 |
| 8 | Manassas, VA | $95,521 |
| 9 | Bozeman, MT | $93,532 |
| 10 | Greenville, SC | $91,850 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $90,867 |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | $81,302 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $80,456 |
Photonics engineer best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025