How to become a Photonics Technician

Official title: Photonics Technicians

Also called: Fiber Optics Instructor, Fiber Optics Technician (Fiber Optics Tech), Laser Technician (Laser Tech), Optics Technician (Optics Tech), Optomechanical Technician (Optomechanical Tech), Photonics Laboratory Technician (Photonics Lab Tech), Photonics Technician (Photonics Tech), Ruling Technician (Ruling Tech)

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

Main tasks

• 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Associate's degree

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Optics Manufacturing Technician.
• Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians; Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians; Laser and Optical Technology/Technician

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $78,350 a year The middle half earn $60,390 to $99,310.
• About 62,400 people work in this job now, and about 64,100 are projected by 2035. (+2.8%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
• Robotics Technicians
• Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Photonics Technician?

Ways in include: Associate's degree; Optics Manufacturing Technician.

How much does a Photonics Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $78,350 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $60,390 to $99,310.

Is a Photonics Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 62,400 to about 64,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Photonics Technician?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Optics Manufacturing Technician.

Will AI change the work of a Photonics Technician?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.