Optical Test Engineer Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Test Engineer in the United States is $79,641 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,737
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,282 to $92,254
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,672
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View as table View as graph 25% $71,282 10% $63,672 90% $103,737 75% $92,254 $79,641 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Optical Test Engineer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $92,254 $7,688 $1,774 $44
Average $79,641 $6,637 $1,532 $38
25th Percentile $71,282 $5,940 $1,371 $34
Check out Optical Test Engineer Job Openings in the United States
Test Engineer

Anonymous Employer - NEWPORT NEWS, VA

Test Engineer

Set of X - ANNAPOLIS, MD

Test Engineer

Mission Services LLC (MSI) - WINCHESTER, VA

Test Engineer

Helios HR - LORTON, VA

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Key Factors That Influence Optical Test Engineer Salaries

An Optical Test 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 Test Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical Test 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): $77,667
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $78,248
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $81,258
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $85,407
  • Expert (over 8 years): $86,445
Levels Salary
Entry Level Optical Test Engineer$77,667
Intermediate Level Optical Test Engineer$78,248
Senior Level Optical Test Engineer$81,258
Specialist Level Optical Test Engineer$85,407
Expert Level Optical Test Engineer$86,445
$77,667 0 yr
$78,248 < 2 yrs
$81,258 2-4 yrs
$85,407 5-8 yrs
$86,445 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $88,178.
  • California: $87,844.
  • Massachusetts: $86,673.

Top Paying Cities for Optical Test 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: $100,451
  • San Francisco: $99,463
  • Oakland: $97,257

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 5.41% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Plumbing (Mentioned in 5.61% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 5.41%
Plumbing 5.61%
Preventive Maintenance 1.67%
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 Test Engineer's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
$93,180
17%
Scheduling
$87,605
10%
Analysis
$87,605
10%
Quality Management
$86,012
8%
Automatic Control
$84,419
6%
Leadership
$84,419
6%
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How Education impacts an Optical Test Engineer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optical Test Engineers enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Test Engineer with a No Diploma is between $71,880 and $78,181).

Optical Test Engineer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optical Test Engineer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 80.8%
High School 80.8%
Associates 15.4%
Bachelors 3.8%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Optical Test Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optical Test 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Optical Test Engineer

Salaries for an Optical Test Engineer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,708 in 2023 to around $50,608 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Optical Test Engineer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Optical Test Engineer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,708
2024
$50,825
2025
$50,608
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,708
2024 $50,825
2025 $50,608
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Optical Test Engineer

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

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

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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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