Photonics Engineer
I-25I Other Semiconductor fab jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 17-2199.07
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $115,810
- work over
40 h a week - 61%
- load index
from O*NET data - 1.6/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +11.7%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: only 1 filing(s) with this job title; at least 5 are needed. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
All pay records and context (3)
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $78,480 · Level II $118,000 · Level III $131,768 · Level IV $187,272 (189 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $82,000 · Level II $99,375 · Level III $121,722 · Level IV $137,592 (51 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Engineer I $61,184 to $99,658 · Engineer II $65,104 to $106,634 · Engineer III $69,572 to $114,099 · Engineer IV $76,530 to $129,430 · Engineer V $84,182 to $142,374 · Engineer VI $92,600 to $156,612 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: Photonics Engineers (17-2199), Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017219913 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 10,820 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017219901).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000017219913 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 10,820 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000017219901).
OEWS pay for an 'All Other' group; not specific to this occupation. Pay differences against this figure are not shown.
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Photonics Engineers, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +11.7% jobs · about 690 openings a year (9,670 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +2.1% jobs · about 9,300 openings a year (158,800 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2018, n = 23 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2018, n = 23 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 78% · irregular 17% · seasonal 4%
Physical load 1.6 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.56, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.7, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.56, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.7, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing2.17
- Walking or running1.74
- Kneeling or crawling1.55
- Bending or twisting1.48
- Climbing ladders1.26
- Keeping balance1.17
Exposure
- Hazardous equipment2.13
- Hazardous conditions2.09
- Protective gear2.09
- Cramped space1.87
- Outdoors, all weather1.39
- Very hot or cold1.22
- High places1.13
Getting in
- License
- Texas PE license (TBPELS) is required for the practice of engineering as defined in Occ. Code 1001.003; whether this job needs it depends on the work.
- Degree
- 95% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related experience is the most common answer (30% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Photonics Engineers, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- I4 MEMS Engineer O*NET lists Microsystems Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.94.
- M Electronic Design Engineer O*NET lists Electronics Engineers, Except Computer as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.93.
- M Computer Hardware Engineer O*NET lists Computer Hardware Engineers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.92.
- I Photonics Technician O*NET lists Photonics Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.83.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.
- 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.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Speaking
- Science
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000017219913, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 17-2199.07 Photonics Engineers, read 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. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
