What are the main factors that influence an Optical Network Engineer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Optical Network Engineer's salary?

An Optical Network Engineer's salary grows with experience: a Optical Network Engineer (0-2 years)earns $78,461, a Network Engineer II (2-4 years)earns $93,606, a Network Engineer III (4-7 years)earns $113,234, a Network Engineer IV (7+ years)earns $133,063, a Network Engineer V (7-10 years)earns $152,357,

What are the highest paying states for an Optical Network Engineer?

Optical Network Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Optical Network Engineer roles are District of Columbia $86,572, California $86,243, Massachusetts $85,094. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Optical Network Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Optical Network Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Optical Engineer IV: $182,710; Staff Optical Engineer: $140,773; Optical Engineer III: $139,980; Optical Engineer II: $120,279; Senior Optical Engineer: $106,275.

Optical Network Engineer Salary in Delaware

How much does an Optical Network Engineer make in Delaware?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Network Engineer in Delaware is $79,183 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,939
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,383 to $89,000
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $68,102

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Optical Network Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,000	$7,417	$1,712	$43
Average	$79,183	$6,599	$1,523	$38
25th Percentile	$73,383	$6,115	$1,411	$35

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Check out Optical Network Engineer Job Openings in Delaware

Specialist Optical Engineer

Harris Geospatial Solutions - Wilmington, DE

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Teradata Corporation (SE) - Dover, DE

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Carrington - Dover, DE

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Key Factors That Influence Optical Network Engineer Salaries

An Optical Network 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 Network Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical Network 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): $78,461
Early Career (1-2 years): $93,606
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,234
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,063
Expert (over 8 years): $152,357

Levels	Salary
Optical N... Level Optical Network Engineer	$78,461
Network E... Level Optical Network Engineer	$93,606
Network E... Level Optical Network Engineer	$113,234
Network E... Level Optical Network Engineer	$133,063
Network E... Level Optical Network Engineer	$152,357

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $86,572.
California: $86,243.
Massachusetts: $85,094.

District of Columbia $86,572 California $86,243 Massachusetts $85,094 Washington $84,781 New Jersey $84,750 Alaska $84,640 Connecticut $83,561 New York $83,124

Hawaii $81,724 Rhode Island $81,067 Maryland $80,622 Minnesota $80,012 Colorado $79,777 Illinois $79,699 Oregon $79,402 Delaware $79,183

New Hampshire $79,045 Virginia $78,737 Pennsylvania $77,838 Nevada $77,384 North Dakota $77,236 Michigan $77,001 Wisconsin $76,915 Vermont $76,743

Texas $76,266 Maine $76,235 Arizona $76,188 Ohio $76,133 Georgia $75,414 Indiana $75,054 Wyoming $74,984 Utah $74,875

Iowa $74,828 Kansas $74,452 Louisiana $74,343 North Carolina $74,304 Missouri $74,288 Florida $73,983 Montana $73,819 Nebraska $73,663

Kentucky $73,577 South Carolina $73,264 Tennessee $73,068 Idaho $72,990 New Mexico $72,419 Oklahoma $72,294 Alabama $71,833 South Dakota $71,059

Arkansas $70,637 West Virginia $70,410 Mississippi $69,730

Top Paying Cities for Optical Network 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: $81,951
Little Creek: $81,192
Magnolia: $81,529

Lincoln, DE $81,951 Little Creek, DE $81,192 Magnolia, DE $81,529 Milford, DE $81,951 Marydel, DE $80,887 Millsboro, DE $81,951 Millville, DE $82,498 Milton, DE $81,951

Nassau, DE $81,951 Ocean View, DE $82,498 Rehoboth Beach, DE $82,498 Seaford, DE $81,091 Selbyville, DE $82,498 Smyrna, DE $80,794 Viola, DE $81,529 Woodside, DE $81,294

Bear, DE $80,199 Newark, DE $80,231 Claymont, DE $80,293 Delaware City, DE $80,231 Hockessin, DE $80,293 Kirkwood, DE $80,231 Middletown, DE $80,629 Montchanin, DE $80,293

New Castle, DE $80,293 Odessa, DE $80,739 Port Penn, DE $80,012 Rockland, DE $80,293 Saint Georges, DE $80,231 Townsend, DE $80,622 Winterthur, DE $80,293 Lewes, DE $81,951

Wilmington, DE $80,293 Dover, DE $81,153 Dover Afb, DE $81,341 Bethany Beach, DE $82,498 Bethel, DE $81,091 Bridgeville, DE $81,951 Camden Wyoming, DE $81,239 Cheswold, DE $80,966

Clayton, DE $80,762 Dagsboro, DE $82,498 Delmar, DE $81,091 Ellendale, DE $81,951 Felton, DE $81,951 Fenwick Island, DE $82,498 Frankford, DE $82,498 Frederica, DE $81,951

Georgetown, DE $81,951 Greenwood, DE $81,951 Harbeson, DE $81,951 Harrington, DE $81,951 Hartly, DE $80,723 Houston, DE $81,951 Kenton, DE $80,762 Laurel, DE $81,091

Yorklyn, DE $80,293

Optical Network Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optical Network 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 March 01, 2026

$73,383

Average $79,183/year

$89,000

$6,115

Average $6,599/month

$7,417

$1,411

Average $1,523/week

$1,712

$35

Average $38/hour

$43

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$89,000	$7,417	$1,712	$43
Average	$79,183	$6,599	$1,523	$38
25th Percentile	$73,383	$6,115	$1,411	$35

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