Salary Range
$50,000 to $100,000+Overview
Optical engineers apply the concepts of optics to research, design, and develop applications in a broad range of areas. Optics, which involves the properties of light and how it interacts with matter, is a branch of physics and engineering. Optical engineers study the way light is produced, transmitted, detected, and measured to determine ways it can be used and to build devices using optical technology.
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor's DegreeCertification/License
RequiredOutlook
About as Fast as the AveragePersonality Traits
Curious
Problem-Solving
Technical
Career Ladder
Sales and Marketing Manager-Optical Engineering
Optical Engineering Research Director
Optical Engineering Project Manager
Optical Engineer
Optics Technician
Related Professions
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Accountants and Auditors
- Actuaries
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Architects
- Assessors and Appraisers
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Avionics Engineers and Technicians
- Big Data Developers
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Broadcast Engineers
- Business Managers
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Credit Analysts
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Demographers
- Drafters
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Economists
- Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Planners
- Financial Quantitative Analysts
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geophysicists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Gunsmiths
- Hardware Engineers
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mathematicians
- Mathematics Teachers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Meteorologists
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Molders
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Physicists
- Pilots
- Plastics Engineers and Technicians
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers and Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers and Technicians
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Solar Engineers
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Statisticians
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Surveyors
- Tax Preparers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wood Science and Technology Workers
