Senior Laser Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does a Senior Laser Engineer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Senior Laser Engineer in the United States is $119,508 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,894
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $110,898 to $130,179
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $103,059

Key Factors That Influence Senior Laser Engineer Salaries

A Senior Laser 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 Senior Laser Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Senior Laser 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): $77,476
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $91,095
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $118,724
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $138,752
  • Expert (over 8 years): $160,735
Levels Salary
Informati... Level Senior Laser Engineer$77,476
Informati... Level Senior Laser Engineer$91,095
Senior La... Level Senior Laser Engineer$118,724
Informati... Level Senior Laser Engineer$138,752
Informati... Level Senior Laser Engineer$160,735

How Do Senior Laser 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 Senior Laser Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $132,319.
  • California: $131,817.
  • Massachusetts: $130,061.

Top Paying Cities for Senior Laser 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: $150,735
  • San Francisco: $149,085
  • Oakland: $145,943

What Skills Can Increase a Senior Laser Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.82% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Incident Response (Mentioned in 3.34% Job Postings): Incident response (IR) is a set of information security policies and procedures that you can use to identify, contain, and eliminate cyberattacks.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.82%
Incident Response 3.34%
Risk Assessment 2.25%

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 Senior Laser Engineer's salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $123,093
3%
Innovation $121,898
2%
Consulting $121,898
2%

Senior Laser Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Senior Laser Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Senior Laser Engineer positions in Retail & Wholesale or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Senior Laser Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Senior Laser Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$143,410$69.020%
Biotechnology$143,410$69.020%
Energy & Utilities$143,410$69.020%
Financial Services$143,410$69.020%
Pharmaceuticals$143,410$69.020%

Senior Laser Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Senior Laser 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 September 01, 2026
$110,898
Average $119,508/year
$130,179
$9,242
Average $9,959/month
$10,848
$2,133
Average $2,298/week
$2,503
$53
Average $57/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $130,179 $10,848 $2,503 $63
Average $119,508 $9,959 $2,298 $57
25th Percentile $110,898 $9,242 $2,133 $53

Most common benefits for Senior Laser Engineer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Senior Laser Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Senior Laser Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Senior Laser Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Senior Laser Engineer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Senior Laser 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.)

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