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 $67,518 for beginners, reaching about $70,546 at mid-level, and approach $72,439 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 $77,129, California $76,836, Massachusetts $75,812. 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: $182,717; Staff Optical Engineer: $140,778; Optical Engineer IV: $139,973; Optical Engineer III: $120,275; Senior Optical Engineer: $106,273.

Optical Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Optical Engineer make in Delaware?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Engineer in Delaware is $70,546 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): $78,744
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,710 to $74,837
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,575

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Optical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,837	$6,236	$1,439	$36
Average	$70,546	$5,879	$1,357	$34
25th Percentile	$62,710	$5,226	$1,206	$30

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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): $67,518
Early Career (1-2 years): $67,765
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,546
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,313
Expert (over 8 years): $72,439

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Optical Engineer	$67,518
Intermediate Level Optical Engineer	$67,765
Senior Level Optical Engineer	$70,546
Specialist Level Optical Engineer	$72,313
Expert Level Optical Engineer	$72,439

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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: $77,129.
California: $76,836.
Massachusetts: $75,812.

District of Columbia $77,129 California $76,836 Massachusetts $75,812 Washington $75,534 New Jersey $75,506 Alaska $75,408 Connecticut $74,447 New York $74,057

Hawaii $72,810 Rhode Island $72,225 Maryland $71,828 Minnesota $71,284 Colorado $71,075 Illinois $71,006 Oregon $70,741 Delaware $70,546

New Hampshire $70,423 Virginia $70,149 Pennsylvania $69,348 Nevada $68,944 North Dakota $68,811 Michigan $68,602 Wisconsin $68,526 Vermont $68,372

Texas $67,948 Maine $67,920 Arizona $67,878 Ohio $67,829 Georgia $67,188 Indiana $66,868 Wyoming $66,805 Utah $66,708

Iowa $66,666 Kansas $66,331 Louisiana $66,234 North Carolina $66,199 Missouri $66,185 Florida $65,913 Montana $65,767 Nebraska $65,628

Kentucky $65,551 South Carolina $65,273 Tennessee $65,098 Idaho $65,029 New Mexico $64,520 Oklahoma $64,409 Alabama $63,998 South Dakota $63,308

Arkansas $62,932 West Virginia $62,730 Mississippi $62,124

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: $70,228
Little Creek: $70,742
Magnolia: $70,641

Lincoln, DE $70,228 Little Creek, DE $70,742 Magnolia, DE $70,641 Milford, DE $70,407 Marydel, DE $70,522 Millsboro, DE $69,934 Millville, DE $70,042 Milton, DE $70,163

Nassau, DE $70,214 Ocean View, DE $70,030 Rehoboth Beach, DE $70,164 Seaford, DE $70,204 Selbyville, DE $69,913 Smyrna, DE $70,791 Viola, DE $70,465 Woodside, DE $70,655

Bear, DE $70,492 Newark, DE $70,465 Claymont, DE $70,609 Delaware City, DE $70,535 Hockessin, DE $70,459 Kirkwood, DE $70,522 Middletown, DE $70,549 Montchanin, DE $70,475

New Castle, DE $70,485 Odessa, DE $70,584 Port Penn, DE $70,632 Rockland, DE $70,482 Saint Georges, DE $70,527 Townsend, DE $70,636 Winterthur, DE $70,490 Lewes, DE $70,190

Wilmington, DE $70,462 Dover, DE $70,742 Dover Afb, DE $70,370 Bethany Beach, DE $69,956 Bethel, DE $70,028 Bridgeville, DE $70,193 Camden Wyoming, DE $70,543 Cheswold, DE $70,719

Clayton, DE $70,721 Dagsboro, DE $69,907 Delmar, DE $69,795 Ellendale, DE $70,007 Felton, DE $70,401 Fenwick Island, DE $69,922 Frankford, DE $69,801 Frederica, DE $70,471

Georgetown, DE $69,881 Greenwood, DE $70,205 Harbeson, DE $69,955 Harrington, DE $70,312 Hartly, DE $70,531 Houston, DE $70,212 Kenton, DE $70,725 Laurel, DE $69,839

Yorklyn, DE $70,480

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 May 01, 2026

$62,710

Average $70,546/year

$74,837

$5,226

Average $5,879/month

$6,236

$1,206

Average $1,357/week

$1,439

$30

Average $34/hour

$36

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,837	$6,236	$1,439	$36
Average	$70,546	$5,879	$1,357	$34
25th Percentile	$62,710	$5,226	$1,206	$30

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