Optical Manufacturing Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Manufacturing Engineer in the United States is $79,966 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,685
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,583 to $86,100
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,772
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View as table View as graph 25% $73,583 10% $67,772 90% $91,685 75% $86,100 $79,966 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Optical Manufacturing Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $86,100 $7,175 $1,656 $41
Average $79,966 $6,664 $1,538 $38
25th Percentile $73,583 $6,132 $1,415 $35
Check out Optical Manufacturing Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Manufacturing Engineer

General Engine Products LLC - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Optical Manufacturing Engineer Salaries

An Optical Manufacturing 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 Manufacturing Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical Manufacturing 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): $79,515
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $90,141
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,764
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,578
  • Expert (over 8 years): $145,419
Levels Salary
Optical M... Level Optical Manufacturing Engineer$79,515
Manufactu... Level Optical Manufacturing Engineer$90,141
Manufactu... Level Optical Manufacturing Engineer$103,764
Manufactu... Level Optical Manufacturing Engineer$126,578
Manufactu... Level Optical Manufacturing Engineer$145,419
$79,515 0 yr
$90,141 < 2 yrs
$103,764 2-4 yrs
$126,578 5-8 yrs
$145,419 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Optical Manufacturing 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 Manufacturing Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $88,538.
  • California: $88,202.
  • Massachusetts: $87,027.

Top Paying Cities for Optical Manufacturing 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: $100,861
  • San Francisco: $99,756
  • Oakland: $97,654

What Skills Can Increase an Optical Manufacturing Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Standard Operating Procedures (Mentioned in 4.07% Job Postings): A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Lean (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing, or lean production, is a system of techniques and activities for running a manufacturing or service operation.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Standard Operating Procedures 4.07%
Continuous Improvement 3.07%
Lean 1.88%
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 Manufacturing Engineer's salary.
  • Chromatography: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Manufacturing Equipment: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Chromatography
$91,961
15%
Biotechnology
$84,764
6%
Manufacturing Equipment
$84,764
6%
ISO
$82,365
3%
Collaboration
$82,365
3%
Process Improvement
$82,365
3%
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Optical Manufacturing Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Optical Manufacturing Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Optical Manufacturing Engineer positions in Telecom or Aerospace & Defense typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Optical Manufacturing Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Optical Manufacturing Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$99,957$48.025%
Biotechnology$95,959$46.020%
Internet$91,961$44.015%
Transportation$91,961$44.015%
Business Services$87,962$42.010%

How Education impacts an Optical Manufacturing Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optical Manufacturing Engineers enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Manufacturing Engineer with a Associate's Degree is between $75,235 and $78,515).

Optical Manufacturing Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optical Manufacturing Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 3.2%
Associates 8.2%
Bachelors 70.1%
Masters 17.7%
Doctorate 0.1%
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Optical Manufacturing Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optical Manufacturing 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Optical Manufacturing Engineer

Salaries for an Optical Manufacturing Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $69,071 in 2023 to around $69,085 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Optical Manufacturing Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Optical Manufacturing Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$69,071
2024
$69,300
2025
$69,085
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $69,071
2024 $69,300
2025 $69,085
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Optical Manufacturing Engineer

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

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

Find Your Next Optical Manufacturing Engineer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Optical Manufacturing Engineer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Optical Manufacturing Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Optical Manufacturing Engineer?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Optical Manufacturing Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

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.)

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