Optical Engineers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual earnings of "Engineers, All Other," which includes engineers who specialize in optics, fiber optics, lasers, and photonics, were $111,970 in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $62,130, and the highest paid 10 percent earned $177,020 or more.

Optics engineers can expect to be paid highly for their expertise, partly due to the fact that the demand for their highly technical skills outweighs the supply. According to PayScale Inc., in 2025 annual salaries for optical engineers ranged from a low of $73,000 to a high of $160,000 or more, with an average of $106,377.

Companies offer a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and personal days; life and disability insurance; pension plans; profit sharing; 401(k) plans; and tuition assistance programs. Some companies also pay for fees and expenses to participate in professional associations, including travel to national conventions, annual meetings, and trade shows.