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

What industry pays the highest salary for Optical Engineer?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Optical Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change An Optical Engineer's salary?

An Optical Engineer's salary grows with experience: starting around $67,559 for beginners, reaching about $70,584 at mid-level, and approach $72,476 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 $77,171, California $76,878, Massachusetts $75,854. 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: $182,724; Staff Optical Engineer: $140,783; Optical Engineer IV: $139,966; Optical Engineer III: $120,270; Senior Optical Engineer: $106,273.

Optical Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Optical Engineer make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Engineer in Delaware is $70,584 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): $78,775
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,755 to $74,872
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,627

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Optical Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,872	$6,239	$1,440	$36
Average	$70,584	$5,882	$1,357	$34
25th Percentile	$62,755	$5,230	$1,207	$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): $67,559
Early Career (1-2 years): $67,806
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,584
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,350
Expert (over 8 years): $72,476

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Optical Engineer	$67,559
Intermediate Level Optical Engineer	$67,806
Senior Level Optical Engineer	$70,584
Specialist Level Optical Engineer	$72,350
Expert Level Optical Engineer	$72,476

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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: $77,171.
California: $76,878.
Massachusetts: $75,854.

District of Columbia $77,171 California $76,878 Massachusetts $75,854 Washington $75,575 New Jersey $75,547 Alaska $75,449 Connecticut $74,488 New York $74,097

Hawaii $72,850 Rhode Island $72,264 Maryland $71,867 Minnesota $71,323 Colorado $71,114 Illinois $71,044 Oregon $70,780 Delaware $70,584

New Hampshire $70,462 Virginia $70,187 Pennsylvania $69,386 Nevada $68,981 North Dakota $68,849 Michigan $68,640 Wisconsin $68,563 Vermont $68,410

Texas $67,985 Maine $67,957 Arizona $67,915 Ohio $67,866 Georgia $67,225 Indiana $66,904 Wyoming $66,842 Utah $66,744

Iowa $66,702 Kansas $66,368 Louisiana $66,270 North Carolina $66,235 Missouri $66,221 Florida $65,949 Montana $65,803 Nebraska $65,664

Kentucky $65,587 South Carolina $65,308 Tennessee $65,134 Idaho $65,064 New Mexico $64,555 Oklahoma $64,444 Alabama $64,033 South Dakota $63,343

Arkansas $62,966 West Virginia $62,764 Mississippi $62,158

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: $70,267
Little Creek: $70,781
Magnolia: $70,679

Lincoln, DE $70,267 Little Creek, DE $70,781 Magnolia, DE $70,679 Milford, DE $70,445 Marydel, DE $70,561 Millsboro, DE $69,972 Millville, DE $70,080 Milton, DE $70,201

Nassau, DE $70,252 Ocean View, DE $70,068 Rehoboth Beach, DE $70,203 Seaford, DE $70,242 Selbyville, DE $69,952 Smyrna, DE $70,830 Viola, DE $70,504 Woodside, DE $70,693

Bear, DE $70,530 Newark, DE $70,504 Claymont, DE $70,648 Delaware City, DE $70,574 Hockessin, DE $70,497 Kirkwood, DE $70,561 Middletown, DE $70,588 Montchanin, DE $70,513

New Castle, DE $70,524 Odessa, DE $70,623 Port Penn, DE $70,670 Rockland, DE $70,520 Saint Georges, DE $70,566 Townsend, DE $70,674 Winterthur, DE $70,529 Lewes, DE $70,228

Wilmington, DE $70,501 Dover, DE $70,781 Dover Afb, DE $70,408 Bethany Beach, DE $69,994 Bethel, DE $70,067 Bridgeville, DE $70,232 Camden Wyoming, DE $70,582 Cheswold, DE $70,758

Clayton, DE $70,760 Dagsboro, DE $69,945 Delmar, DE $69,833 Ellendale, DE $70,045 Felton, DE $70,440 Fenwick Island, DE $69,961 Frankford, DE $69,839 Frederica, DE $70,509

Georgetown, DE $69,919 Greenwood, DE $70,243 Harbeson, DE $69,993 Harrington, DE $70,350 Hartly, DE $70,569 Houston, DE $70,250 Kenton, DE $70,764 Laurel, DE $69,877

Yorklyn, DE $70,518

Optical Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Optical Engineer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Optical Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Optical Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Optical Engineer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale	$84,701	$41.0	20%
Healthcare	$74,114	$36.0	5%

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 July 01, 2026

$62,755

Average $70,584/year

$74,872

$5,230

Average $5,882/month

$6,239

$1,207

Average $1,357/week

$1,440

$30

Average $34/hour

$36

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,872	$6,239	$1,440	$36
Average	$70,584	$5,882	$1,357	$34
25th Percentile	$62,755	$5,230	$1,207	$30

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