Optical Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Optical Engineer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Engineer in the United States is $69,589 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, an Optical Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,694
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,849 to $73,832
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,802
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View as table View as graph 25% $61,849 10% $54,802 90% $77,694 75% $73,832 $69,589 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Optical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $73,832 $6,153 $1,420 $35
Average $69,589 $5,799 $1,338 $33
25th Percentile $61,849 $5,154 $1,189 $30
Check out Optical Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Junior Electro-Optical Test Engineer with Security Clearance

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Electro-Optical Systems Engineer with Security Clearance

LTC Solutions, LLC - MCB QUANTICO, VA

Optical and Mechanical Engineer with Security Clearance

Booz Allen Hamilton - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Search More Optical Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Optical Engineer Salaries

An Optical Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Optical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,598
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,841
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,589
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $71,336
  • Expert (over 8 years): $71,461
Levels Salary
Entry Level Optical Engineer$66,598
Intermediate Level Optical Engineer$66,841
Senior Level Optical Engineer$69,589
Specialist Level Optical Engineer$71,336
Expert Level Optical Engineer$71,461
$66,598 0 yr
$66,841 < 2 yrs
$69,589 2-4 yrs
$71,336 5-8 yrs
$71,461 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Optical Engineers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $87,772
  • San Francisco: $86,910
  • Oakland: $84,982

What Skills Can Increase an Optical Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.11% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
  • Medical Billing (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): Medical billing is a payment practice within the United States health system. The process involves a healthcare provider submitting, following up on, and appealing claims with health insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered; such as testing, treatments, and procedures. The same process is used for most insurance companies, whether they are private companies or government sponsored programs: Medical coding reports what the diagnosis and treatment were, and prices are applied accordingly. Medical billers are encouraged, but not required by law, to become certified by taking an exam such as the CMRS Exam, RHIA Exam, CPB Exam and others. Certification schools are intended to provide a theoretical grounding for students entering the medical billing field. Some community colleges in the United States offer certificates, or even associate degrees, in the field. Those seeking advancement may be cross-trained in medical coding or transcription or auditing, and may earn a bachelor's or graduate degree in medical information science and technology.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.11%
Work Ethic 2.26%
Medical Billing 1.45%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Optical Engineer's salary.
  • Word Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Spreadsheet Software: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Word Processing
$82,115
18%
Spreadsheet Software
$74,460
7%
Problem Solving
$74,460
7%
Initiative
$73,764
6%
Organizational Skills
$72,372
4%
Leadership
$72,372
4%
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How Education impacts an Optical Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optical Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Optical Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,213 and $54,636).

Optical Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optical Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 54.1%
Associates 23.9%
Bachelors 19.4%
Masters 1.2%
Doctorate 0.3%
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Optical Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optical Engineer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Optical Engineer

Salaries for an Optical Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $56,173 in 2023 to around $55,788 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Optical Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Optical Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$56,173
2024
$56,430
2025
$55,788
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $56,173
2024 $56,430
2025 $55,788
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Optical Engineer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Optical Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Optical Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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