What are the main factors that influence an Optical Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change an Optical Engineer's salary?

An Optical Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $67,444 for beginners, reaching about $70,473 at mid-level, and approach $72,368 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for an Optical Engineer?

Optical Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Optical Engineer roles are District of Columbia $77,049, California $76,757, Massachusetts $75,734. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Optical Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Optical Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Optical Engineer IV: $182,703; Staff Optical Engineer: $140,766; Optical Engineer III: $139,987; Optical Engineer II: $120,284; Senior Optical Engineer: $106,279.

Optical Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Optical Engineer make in Delaware?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Engineer in Delaware is $70,473 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,681
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,634 to $74,769
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,498

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Optical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,769	$6,231	$1,438	$36
Average	$70,473	$5,873	$1,355	$34
25th Percentile	$62,634	$5,220	$1,205	$30

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Harris Geospatial Solutions - Wilmington, DE

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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 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): $67,444
Early Career (1-2 years): $67,690
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,473
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,242
Expert (over 8 years): $72,368

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Optical Engineer	$67,444
Intermediate Level Optical Engineer	$67,690
Senior Level Optical Engineer	$70,473
Specialist Level Optical Engineer	$72,242
Expert Level Optical Engineer	$72,368

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Optical Engineer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Optical Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $77,049.
California: $76,757.
Massachusetts: $75,734.

District of Columbia $77,049 California $76,757 Massachusetts $75,734 Washington $75,455 New Jersey $75,427 Alaska $75,330 Connecticut $74,370 New York $73,980

Hawaii $72,734 Rhode Island $72,150 Maryland $71,753 Minnesota $71,210 Colorado $71,002 Illinois $70,932 Oregon $70,668 Delaware $70,473

New Hampshire $70,350 Virginia $70,076 Pennsylvania $69,276 Nevada $68,872 North Dakota $68,740 Michigan $68,531 Wisconsin $68,455 Vermont $68,302

Texas $67,877 Maine $67,849 Arizona $67,807 Ohio $67,759 Georgia $67,118 Indiana $66,798 Wyoming $66,736 Utah $66,638

Iowa $66,597 Kansas $66,263 Louisiana $66,165 North Carolina $66,130 Missouri $66,116 Florida $65,845 Montana $65,699 Nebraska $65,560

Kentucky $65,483 South Carolina $65,205 Tennessee $65,031 Idaho $64,961 New Mexico $64,453 Oklahoma $64,342 Alabama $63,931 South Dakota $63,242

Arkansas $62,867 West Virginia $62,665 Mississippi $62,059

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:

Lincoln: $72,936
Little Creek: $72,261
Magnolia: $72,560

Lincoln, DE $72,936 Little Creek, DE $72,261 Magnolia, DE $72,560 Milford, DE $72,936 Marydel, DE $71,990 Millsboro, DE $72,936 Millville, DE $73,423 Milton, DE $72,936

Nassau, DE $72,936 Ocean View, DE $73,423 Rehoboth Beach, DE $73,423 Seaford, DE $72,171 Selbyville, DE $73,423 Smyrna, DE $71,906 Viola, DE $72,560 Woodside, DE $72,352

Bear, DE $71,377 Newark, DE $71,405 Claymont, DE $71,461 Delaware City, DE $71,405 Hockessin, DE $71,461 Kirkwood, DE $71,405 Middletown, DE $71,760 Montchanin, DE $71,461

New Castle, DE $71,461 Odessa, DE $71,857 Port Penn, DE $71,210 Rockland, DE $71,461 Saint Georges, DE $71,405 Townsend, DE $71,753 Winterthur, DE $71,461 Lewes, DE $72,936

Wilmington, DE $71,461 Dover, DE $72,226 Dover Afb, DE $72,393 Bethany Beach, DE $73,423 Bethel, DE $72,171 Bridgeville, DE $72,936 Camden Wyoming, DE $72,303 Cheswold, DE $72,059

Clayton, DE $71,878 Dagsboro, DE $73,423 Delmar, DE $72,171 Ellendale, DE $72,936 Felton, DE $72,936 Fenwick Island, DE $73,423 Frankford, DE $73,423 Frederica, DE $72,936

Georgetown, DE $72,936 Greenwood, DE $72,936 Harbeson, DE $72,936 Harrington, DE $72,936 Hartly, DE $71,844 Houston, DE $72,936 Kenton, DE $71,878 Laurel, DE $72,171

Yorklyn, DE $71,461

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

$62,634

Average $70,473/year

$74,769

$5,220

Average $5,873/month

$6,231

$1,205

Average $1,355/week

$1,438

$30

Average $34/hour

$36

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,769	$6,231	$1,438	$36
Average	$70,473	$5,873	$1,355	$34
25th Percentile	$62,634	$5,220	$1,205	$30

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