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 $67,504 for beginners, reaching about $70,527 at mid-level, and approach $72,415 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 $77,108, California $76,815, Massachusetts $75,792. 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 V: $182,713; Staff Optical Engineer: $140,775; Optical Engineer IV: $139,977; Optical Engineer III: $120,277; Senior Optical Engineer: $106,272.

Optical Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Optical Engineer make in Delaware?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Engineer in Delaware is $70,527 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): $78,706
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,703 to $74,808
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,581

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Optical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,808	$6,234	$1,439	$36
Average	$70,527	$5,877	$1,356	$34
25th Percentile	$62,703	$5,225	$1,206	$30

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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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): $67,504
Early Career (1-2 years): $67,750
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,527
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,290
Expert (over 8 years): $72,415

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Optical Engineer	$67,504
Intermediate Level Optical Engineer	$67,750
Senior Level Optical Engineer	$70,527
Specialist Level Optical Engineer	$72,290
Expert Level Optical Engineer	$72,415

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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: $77,108.
California: $76,815.
Massachusetts: $75,792.

District of Columbia $77,108 California $76,815 Massachusetts $75,792 Washington $75,513 New Jersey $75,485 Alaska $75,388 Connecticut $74,427 New York $74,037

Hawaii $72,790 Rhode Island $72,205 Maryland $71,808 Minnesota $71,265 Colorado $71,056 Illinois $70,986 Oregon $70,722 Delaware $70,527

New Hampshire $70,404 Virginia $70,130 Pennsylvania $69,329 Nevada $68,925 North Dakota $68,793 Michigan $68,584 Wisconsin $68,507 Vermont $68,354

Texas $67,929 Maine $67,901 Arizona $67,859 Ohio $67,811 Georgia $67,170 Indiana $66,850 Wyoming $66,787 Utah $66,689

Iowa $66,648 Kansas $66,313 Louisiana $66,216 North Carolina $66,181 Missouri $66,167 Florida $65,896 Montana $65,749 Nebraska $65,610

Kentucky $65,533 South Carolina $65,255 Tennessee $65,081 Idaho $65,011 New Mexico $64,503 Oklahoma $64,391 Alabama $63,980 South Dakota $63,291

Arkansas $62,915 West Virginia $62,713 Mississippi $62,107

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: $72,992
Little Creek: $72,317
Magnolia: $72,616

Lincoln, DE $72,992 Little Creek, DE $72,317 Magnolia, DE $72,616 Milford, DE $72,992 Marydel, DE $72,045 Millsboro, DE $72,992 Millville, DE $73,480 Milton, DE $72,992

Nassau, DE $72,992 Ocean View, DE $73,480 Rehoboth Beach, DE $73,480 Seaford, DE $72,226 Selbyville, DE $73,480 Smyrna, DE $71,961 Viola, DE $72,616 Woodside, DE $72,407

Bear, DE $71,432 Newark, DE $71,460 Claymont, DE $71,516 Delaware City, DE $71,460 Hockessin, DE $71,516 Kirkwood, DE $71,460 Middletown, DE $71,815 Montchanin, DE $71,516

New Castle, DE $71,516 Odessa, DE $71,913 Port Penn, DE $71,265 Rockland, DE $71,516 Saint Georges, DE $71,460 Townsend, DE $71,808 Winterthur, DE $71,516 Lewes, DE $72,992

Wilmington, DE $71,516 Dover, DE $72,282 Dover Afb, DE $72,449 Bethany Beach, DE $73,480 Bethel, DE $72,226 Bridgeville, DE $72,992 Camden Wyoming, DE $72,358 Cheswold, DE $72,115

Clayton, DE $71,934 Dagsboro, DE $73,480 Delmar, DE $72,226 Ellendale, DE $72,992 Felton, DE $72,992 Fenwick Island, DE $73,480 Frankford, DE $73,480 Frederica, DE $72,992

Georgetown, DE $72,992 Greenwood, DE $72,992 Harbeson, DE $72,992 Harrington, DE $72,992 Hartly, DE $71,899 Houston, DE $72,992 Kenton, DE $71,934 Laurel, DE $72,226

Yorklyn, DE $71,516

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 April 01, 2026

$62,703

Average $70,527/year

$74,808

$5,225

Average $5,877/month

$6,234

$1,206

Average $1,356/week

$1,439

$30

Average $34/hour

$36

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,808	$6,234	$1,439	$36
Average	$70,527	$5,877	$1,356	$34
25th Percentile	$62,703	$5,225	$1,206	$30

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