Skip to main contentReport an accessibility problem
ASU for LifeASU for Life

Photonics Technicians

ManufacturingO*NET 17-3029.08United States

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$78,066

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+5%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Associate degree

40.9% of the workforce

Employment
66.75K jobs

Growing to 70.06K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

Loading related ASU learning

The work

What photonics technicians do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Compute or record photonic test data.
  • Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.
  • Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices.
  • Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.
  • Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
  • Set up or operate assembly or processing equipment, such as lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature or humidity chambers, or optical spectrum analyzers.
  • Test or perform failure analysis for optomechanical or optoelectrical products, according to test plans.
  • Assist engineers in the development of new products, fixtures, tools, or processes.
  • Recommend optical or optic equipment design or material changes to reduce costs or processing times.
  • Set up or operate prototype or test apparatus, such as control consoles, collimators, recording equipment, or cables.
  • Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as necessary.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$46,538
25th percentile
$59,892
50th percentile
$78,066
75th percentile
$99,469
90th percentile
$120,770

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $78,066 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+5%average or slower
202566,752 jobs
2035 projected70,059 jobs

3,307 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Associate degree
40.9%
High school diploma or less
27.3%
Bachelor's degree
13.6%
Certificate
9.1%
Some college
4.6%
Master's or Professional degree
4.6%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Fiber Optics
  • Splicing
  • Fiber Optic Cable
  • Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer
  • Fiber Splicing
  • Fusion Splicing
  • Hand Tools
  • Telecommunications
  • Lifting Ability
  • Good Driving Record
  • Working at Heights
  • Outside Plant
  • Fiber Optic Testing
  • Industry Standards
  • Safety Standards
  • Test Equipment
  • Optical Loss Test Sets
  • Project Management
  • Network Routing
  • Packaging And Labeling

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Installation
Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Fiber Splicers1,333 postings
  2. 02Fiber Technicians994 postings
  3. 03Fiber Optic Technicians357 postings
  4. 04Fiber Optic Splicers286 postings
  5. 05Laser Technicians280 postings
  6. 06Laser Operators205 postings
  7. 07Technicians153 postings
  8. 08Installation Technicians114 postings
  9. 09Splicing Technicians103 postings
  10. 10Medical Alert Installers94 postings
  11. 11Scrub Technicians74 postings
  12. 12Assembly Operators69 postings
  13. 13Low Voltage Technicians62 postings
  14. 14Engineering Technicians57 postings
  15. 15Fiber Optic Specialists56 postings
  16. 16Fiber Specialists47 postings
  17. 17Coax Splicers38 postings
  18. 18Shop Technicians38 postings
  19. 19Metrology Technicians37 postings
  20. 20Operators36 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Cci Systems230 postings
  2. 02MasTec195 postings
  3. 03TEKsystems109 postings
  4. 04Aerotek106 postings
  5. 05Solv Energy79 postings
  6. 06Shentel77 postings
  7. 07Ervin Cable Construction75 postings
  8. 08United Medical Systems72 postings
  9. 09CS Contract Solutions71 postings
  10. 10Spectrum63 postings
  11. 11Field Operations60 postings
  12. 12Medical Guardian54 postings
  13. 13Sunrise Telecom54 postings
  14. 14Congruex52 postings
  15. 15Agiliti Health47 postings
  16. 16Gridsource45 postings
  17. 17Ecc Company Ltd.40 postings
  18. 18Towermrl36 postings
  19. 19Semper Laser Holdings LLC Hallandale28 postings
  20. 20East West Staffing27 postings

Keep looking

Related careers

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders

Median pay
$46,467
Employment outlook
+0.5%

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

Median pay
$65,331
Employment outlook
−7.4%

Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate

Median pay
$68,507
Employment outlook
−2.3%

Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

Median pay
$68,507
Employment outlook
−2.3%