Photonics Technicians in North Carolina
Considering working as a Photonics Technicians in North Carolina? Here’s what the data says. All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.
What do Photonics Technicians Make in North Carolina?
The photonics technicians working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $74,210 per year (or about $35.68/hour).Earnings range from $44,710 at the 10th percentile to $102,880 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,710 | $21.49 |
| 25th percentile | $54,340 | $26.13 |
| Median (50th) | $74,210 | $35.68 |
| 75th percentile | $84,480 | $40.62 |
| 90th percentile | $102,880 | $49.46 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina compared to the national average — is 0.68, indicating fewer photonics technicians per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, photonics technicians earn a median of $106,964 per year ($51.43/hour), below the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 301,131 photonics technicians across the United States. In North Carolina alone, approximately 1,400 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 680 photonics technicians.
Top North Carolina Metros for Photonics Technicians
The largest metro-area employers of photonics technicians in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 370 | $67,550 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 190 | $73,880 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 150 | $48,670 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $73,880 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 70 | $69,030 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 50 | $82,740 |
| Wilmington, NC | 40 | $77,940 |
Top States for Photonics Technicians Employment
The table below shows the states where the most photonics technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 8,570 |
| California | 7,840 |
| Virginia | 3,810 |
| Maryland | 2,680 |
| Florida | 2,440 |
| Washington | 2,310 |
| New York | 2,200 |
| Georgia | 2,140 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,120 |
| Louisiana | 2,020 |
| Ohio | 1,460 |
| North Carolina | 1,400 |
| Colorado | 1,320 |
| Michigan | 1,290 |
| Illinois | 1,160 |
| Oregon | 1,110 |
| Utah | 1,090 |
| Massachusetts | 1,080 |
| New Jersey | 1,060 |
| Kansas | 970 |
Highest-Paying States for Photonics Technicians
These states pay the most for photonics technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,120 |
| New Mexico | $107,310 |
| Maryland | $104,830 |
| Maine | $101,500 |
| Rhode Island | $98,340 |
| Washington | $96,120 |
| Virginia | $95,640 |
| Hawaii | $90,380 |
| Nevada | $88,860 |
| California | $83,350 |
Skills
The most important photonics technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for photonics technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Photonics Technicians typically:
- 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.
- 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.
- Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
- 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.
- Assemble fiber optical, optoelectronic, or free-space optics components, subcomponents, assemblies, or subassemblies.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Working with Computers
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Processing Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Environmental Control Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
- Industrial Production Technology
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Electronics Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- General Engineering Technology
- Engineering-Related Technologies
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mining & Petroleum Technology
- Military Applied Sciences
- Military Systems & Maintenance
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like photonics technicians include:
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Microsystems Engineers
- Photonics Engineers
Also Known As
Certified Laser Technician (Certified Laser Tech), Electro-Optics Technician (Electro-Optics Tech), Fiber Optics Assembler, Fiber Optics Cabling Specialist, Fiber Optics Design Technician (Fiber Optics Design Tech), Fiber Optics Instructor, Fiber Optics Specialist, Fiber Optics Splicer, Fiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech), Fiber Splicer, Fiber Technician (Fiber Tech), Healthcare Laser Technician (Healthcare Laser Tech), Installation Technician (Installation Tech), Laser Assembly Technician (Laser Assembly Tech), Laser Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 17-3029.08
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