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Photonics Engineers in North Carolina

Photonics Engineers in North Carolina

Want to work as a Photonics Engineers in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. All engineers not listed separately. Excludes “Sales Engineers” (41-9031), “Locomotive Engineers” (53-4011), and “Ship Engineers” (53-5031).

What do Photonics Engineers Make in North Carolina?

The photonics engineers working in North Carolina, the typical annual salary is $106,960 per year (or roughly $51.42/hour).Earnings range from $61,010 at the 10th percentile to $170,710 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $61,010 $29.33
25th percentile $80,190 $38.55
Median (50th) $106,960 $51.42
75th percentile $148,760 $71.52
90th percentile $170,710 $82.07
Salary ranges for Photonics Engineers in North Carolina

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina compared to the national average — is 0.88, meaning fewer photonics engineers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, photonics engineers earn a median of $84,667 per year ($40.71/hour), above the North Carolina median.

Photonics Engineers earnings in North Carolina vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 40,916 photonics engineers across the United States. In North Carolina alone, around 4,230 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 1,430 photonics engineers.

Photonics Engineers in North Carolina vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Photonics Engineers

Top North Carolina Metros for Photonics Engineers

The largest metro-area employers of photonics engineers in North Carolina.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 1,470 $125,340
Raleigh-Cary, NC 740 $100,440
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 430 $107,890
Greensboro-High Point, NC 190 $100,480
Asheville, NC 90 $107,210
Wilmington, NC 90 $148,580
Fayetteville, NC 80 $126,220
Winston-Salem, NC 80 $98,180
Greenville, NC 70 $98,410
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 50 $107,970
Jacksonville, NC 50 $113,030

Top States for Photonics Engineers Employment

These states have the highest employment of photonics engineers work.

State Number Employed
California 26,500
Texas 9,900
Florida 9,120
Louisiana 7,630
Maryland 6,670
Michigan 6,630
Virginia 5,980
Ohio 5,970
New York 5,020
Pennsylvania 4,710
Tennessee 4,610
North Carolina 4,230
Georgia 3,970
New Jersey 3,910
Alabama 3,370
Washington 3,150
Illinois 3,010
Massachusetts 2,930
Arizona 2,660
District of Columbia 2,640

Highest-Paying States for Photonics Engineers

The highest-paying states for photonics engineers.

State Annual Median Salary
District of Columbia $167,270
Alabama $146,480
New Mexico $142,520
Virginia $142,110
Wyoming $139,010
Maryland $135,990
Alaska $132,410
Massachusetts $132,020
New Jersey $131,960
Rhode Island $131,830

Skills

Key photonics engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Critical Thinking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.9 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.8 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  3.6 / 5
0
5
Speaking  3.6 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Engineering and Technology  4.8 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.6 / 5
0
5
Physics  4.6 / 5
0
5
Computers and Electronics  4.2 / 5
0
5
Design  4.0 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.3 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Top abilities for photonics engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Information Ordering  4.0 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  4.0 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  3.9 / 5
0
5
Written Expression  3.9 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, photonics engineers typically:

  • Analyze system performance or operational requirements.
  • Develop optical or imaging systems, such as optical imaging products, optical components, image processes, signal process technologies, or optical systems.
  • Develop or test photonic prototypes or models.
  • Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
  • Assist in the transition of photonic prototypes to production.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, continue education, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in the field.
  • Write reports or proposals related to photonics research or development projects.
  • Conduct testing to determine functionality or optimization or to establish limits of photonics systems or components.
  • Determine applications of photonics appropriate to meet product objectives or features.
  • Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
  • Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
  • Document photonics system or component design processes, including objectives, issues, or outcomes.

Work Activities

  • Working with Computers
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Thinking Creatively
  • Processing Information
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, C, C#, C++ In-demand technologies: C++

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

Other careers like photonics engineers include:

Also Known As

Algorithm Developer, DWDM Optical Network Engineer (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Optical Network Engineer), Display Engineer, Electro-optical Engineer, Electro-optics Engineer, Engineer, Fiber Optics Engineer, Laser Engineer, Laser Systems Engineer, Optical Design Engineer, Optical Engineer, Optical Manufacturing Engineer, Optical Network Engineer, Optical Specialist, Optical Systems Engineer.

References

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