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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Photonics Engineers

Part of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, in the Engineering and Technology pathway.

Job zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 17-2199.07

What the work is

Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

On a typical day

  • Analyze, fabricate, or test fiber-optic links.
  • Design electro-optical sensing or imaging systems.
  • Determine commercial, industrial, scientific, or other uses for electro-optical applications or devices.
  • Conduct research on new photonics technologies.
  • Design, integrate, or test photonics systems or components.
  • Analyze system performance or operational requirements.

What it pays

$117,620
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $79,240
Experienced workers reach $160,020
  1. $79k10th
  2. $96k25th
  3. $118kMedian
  4. $139k75th
  5. $160k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $79,240, 25th $95,540, Median $117,620, 75th $139,010, 90th $160,020

About 760 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+11.9%

employment change in the Alamo region, 959 to 1,073 jobs · U.S. +2%

68

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 9,300

959

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 158,800

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Critical Thinking4.8
  2. Reading Comprehension5.0
  3. Writing4.8
  4. Active Listening4.1
  5. Active Learning5.0
  6. Mathematics4.9
  7. Speaking4.0
  8. Science4.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Associate degree5%
  2. Bachelor's degree52%
  3. Master's degree38%
  4. Doctoral or professional5%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • San Antonio
  1. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  2. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  3. Engineering

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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