Principal Optics Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Principal Optics Engineer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Principal Optics Engineer in the United States is $68,241 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,182
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,679 to $72,397
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,794
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View as table View as graph 25% $60,679 10% $53,794 90% $76,182 75% $72,397 $68,241 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Principal Optics Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $72,397 $6,033 $1,392 $35
Average $68,241 $5,687 $1,312 $33
25th Percentile $60,679 $5,057 $1,167 $29
Check out Principal Optics Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Principal Engineer- Civil

ANS - Columbus, OH

Principal Engineer - Land Development

T&M Associates - Columbus, OH

Senior or Principal Engineer - Traffic

Toole Design - Columbus, OH

Senior Principal Engineer

Hazen and Sawyer - Columbus, OH

Search More Principal Optics Engineer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Principal Optics Engineer Salaries

A Principal Optics 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 Principal Optics Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Principal Optics 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): $65,318
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $65,556
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,240
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $69,952
  • Expert (over 8 years): $70,074
Levels Salary
Entry Level Principal Optics Engineer$65,318
Intermediate Level Principal Optics Engineer$65,556
Senior Level Principal Optics Engineer$68,240
Specialist Level Principal Optics Engineer$69,952
Expert Level Principal Optics Engineer$70,074
$65,318 0 yr
$65,556 < 2 yrs
$68,240 2-4 yrs
$69,952 5-8 yrs
$70,074 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $75,556.
  • California: $75,269.
  • Massachusetts: $74,266.

Top Paying Cities for Principal Optics 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: $86,072
  • San Francisco: $85,129
  • Oakland: $83,335

What Skills Can Increase a Principal Optics Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.11% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Work Ethic (Mentioned in 2.26% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
  • Medical Billing (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): Medical billing is a payment practice within the United States health system. The process involves a healthcare provider submitting, following up on, and appealing claims with health insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered; such as testing, treatments, and procedures. The same process is used for most insurance companies, whether they are private companies or government sponsored programs: Medical coding reports what the diagnosis and treatment were, and prices are applied accordingly. Medical billers are encouraged, but not required by law, to become certified by taking an exam such as the CMRS Exam, RHIA Exam, CPB Exam and others. Certification schools are intended to provide a theoretical grounding for students entering the medical billing field. Some community colleges in the United States offer certificates, or even associate degrees, in the field. Those seeking advancement may be cross-trained in medical coding or transcription or auditing, and may earn a bachelor's or graduate degree in medical information science and technology.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.11%
Work Ethic 2.26%
Medical Billing 1.45%
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 a Principal Optics Engineer's salary.
  • Word Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Spreadsheet Software: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Word Processing
$80,524
18%
Spreadsheet Software
$73,017
7%
Problem Solving
$73,017
7%
Initiative
$72,335
6%
Organizational Skills
$70,970
4%
Leadership
$70,970
4%
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Principal Optics Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Principal Optics 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, Principal Optics Engineer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Principal Optics Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Principal Optics Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$81,889$39.020%
Healthcare$71,653$34.05%

How Education impacts a Principal Optics Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Principal Optics Engineers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Principal Optics Engineer with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,213 and $54,636).

Principal Optics Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Principal Optics Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 54.1%
Associates 23.9%
Bachelors 19.4%
Masters 1.2%
Doctorate 0.3%
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Principal Optics Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Principal Optics 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 Principal Optics Engineer

Salaries for a Principal Optics Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,982 in 2023 to around $54,606 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Principal Optics Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Principal Optics Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,982
2024
$55,233
2025
$54,606
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,982
2024 $55,233
2025 $54,606
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Principal Optics Engineer

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

Here are companies hiring for Principal Optics Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Principal Optics Engineer Job

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

United States
  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    6 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    6 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... more

    6 Days Ago

  • 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

    12 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

    14 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

    15 Days Ago

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FAQ about Principal Optics Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Principal Optics Engineer?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Principal Optics Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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