What are the main factors that influence a Photonics Engineer's salary?

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

How does experience change A Photonics Engineer's salary?

A Photonics Engineer's salary grows with experience: an Operations Research Analyst I (0-2 years)earns $72,701, an Photonics Engineer (2-4 years)earns $90,041, an Operations Research Analyst III (4-7 years)earns $103,724, an Operations Research Analyst IV (7+ years)earns $119,139, an Operations Research Analyst V (7-10 years)earns $139,585,

What are the highest paying states for a Photonics Engineer?

Photonics Engineer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Photonics Engineer roles are District of Columbia $96,842, California $96,475, Massachusetts $95,189. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Photonics Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Photonics Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Engineer VI: $187,056; Engineer II: $92,138; Ceramics Engineer: $90,419; Localization Engineer: $84,130; Locomotive Engineer: $80,815.

Photonics Engineer Salary in Rhode Island

How much does a Photonics Engineer make in Rhode Island?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Photonics Engineer in Rhode Island is $90,685 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $107,425
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,199 to $99,447
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,383

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Photonics Engineer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$99,447	$8,287	$1,912	$48
Average	$90,685	$7,557	$1,744	$44
25th Percentile	$83,199	$6,933	$1,600	$40

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Photonics Engineer Salaries

A Photonics 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 Photonics Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Photonics 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): $72,701
Early Career (1-2 years): $90,041
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,724
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $119,139
Expert (over 8 years): $139,585

Levels	Salary
Operation... Level Photonics Engineer	$72,701
Photonics... Level Photonics Engineer	$90,041
Operation... Level Photonics Engineer	$103,724
Operation... Level Photonics Engineer	$119,139
Operation... Level Photonics Engineer	$139,585

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $96,842.
California: $96,475.
Massachusetts: $95,189.

District of Columbia $96,842 California $96,475 Massachusetts $95,189 Washington $94,839 New Jersey $94,805 Alaska $94,682 Connecticut $93,475 New York $92,985

Hawaii $91,420 Rhode Island $90,685 Maryland $90,186 Minnesota $89,504 Colorado $89,242 Illinois $89,154 Oregon $88,822 Delaware $88,577

New Hampshire $88,423 Virginia $88,078 Pennsylvania $87,073 Nevada $86,565 North Dakota $86,399 Michigan $86,137 Wisconsin $86,040 Vermont $85,848

Texas $85,314 Maine $85,279 Arizona $85,227 Ohio $85,166 Georgia $84,361 Indiana $83,959 Wyoming $83,880 Utah $83,758

Iowa $83,705 Kansas $83,285 Louisiana $83,163 North Carolina $83,119 Missouri $83,102 Florida $82,760 Montana $82,577 Nebraska $82,402

Kentucky $82,306 South Carolina $81,956 Tennessee $81,737 Idaho $81,650 New Mexico $81,011 Oklahoma $80,871 Alabama $80,355 South Dakota $79,489

Arkansas $79,017 West Virginia $78,763 Mississippi $78,002

Top Paying Cities for Photonics 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:

Adamsville: $92,172
Albion: $90,641
Ashaway: $92,522

Adamsville, RI $92,172 Albion, RI $90,641 Ashaway, RI $92,522 Barrington, RI $90,641 Block Island, RI $92,041 Bradford, RI $92,460 Bristol, RI $90,554 Carolina, RI $91,708

Charlestown, RI $91,804 Chepachet, RI $90,466 Clayville, RI $90,554 Coventry, RI $90,466 West Greenwich, RI $90,405 East Greenwich, RI $90,527 Exeter, RI $92,460 Fiskeville, RI $90,641

Forestdale, RI $90,554 Foster, RI $90,405 Glendale, RI $90,405 Greene, RI $91,420 Greenville, RI $90,641 Harmony, RI $90,615 Harrisville, RI $90,466 Hope, RI $90,641

Hope Valley, RI $92,522 Hopkinton, RI $92,548 Jamestown, RI $91,621 Kenyon, RI $92,434 Little Compton, RI $92,137 Manville, RI $90,641 Mapleville, RI $90,405 Newport, RI $91,638

Middletown, RI $92,023 North Kingstown, RI $90,379 North Scituate, RI $90,615 Oakland, RI $90,492 Pascoag, RI $90,440 Pawtucket, RI $90,641 Central Falls, RI $90,641 Cumberland, RI $90,641

Lincoln, RI $90,641 Portsmouth, RI $91,271 Prudence Island, RI $90,466 Rockville, RI $92,548 Saunderstown, RI $91,673 Shannock, RI $92,408 Slatersville, RI $90,554 Slocum, RI $91,673

Tiverton, RI $92,198 Wakefield, RI $91,577 Kingston, RI $91,594 Narragansett, RI $91,612 Peace Dale, RI $91,577 Warren, RI $90,615 Warwick, RI $90,641 Westerly, RI $92,574

West Kingston, RI $91,647 West Warwick, RI $90,641 Wood River Junction, RI $92,460 Woonsocket, RI $90,554 North Smithfield, RI $90,615 Wyoming, RI $92,434 Providence, RI $90,641 Cranston, RI $90,641

North Providence, RI $90,641 East Providence, RI $90,641 Riverside, RI $90,641 Rumford, RI $90,641 Smithfield, RI $90,641 Johnston, RI $90,641

Photonics Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Photonics 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 April 01, 2026

$83,199

Average $90,685/year

$99,447

$6,933

Average $7,557/month

$8,287

$1,600

Average $1,744/week

$1,912

$40

Average $44/hour

$48

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$99,447	$8,287	$1,912	$48
Average	$90,685	$7,557	$1,744	$44
25th Percentile	$83,199	$6,933	$1,600	$40

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