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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Photonics Technicians

Part of Manufacturing, in the Manufacturing Production Process Development pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 17-3029.08

What the work is

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

On a typical day

  • Monitor inventory levels and order supplies as necessary.
  • Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.
  • Test or perform failure analysis for optomechanical or optoelectrical products, according to test plans.
  • Assist scientists or engineers in the conduct of photonic experiments.
  • Assist engineers in the development of new products, fixtures, tools, or processes.
  • Set up or operate prototype or test apparatus, such as control consoles, collimators, recording equipment, or cables.

What it pays

$71,150
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $40,320
Experienced workers reach $103,420
  1. $40k10th
  2. $53k25th
  3. $71kMedian
  4. $86k75th
  5. $103k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $40,320, 25th $53,060, Median $71,150, 75th $85,630, 90th $103,420

About 330 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.

+15.0%

employment change in the Alamo region, 460 to 529 jobs · U.S. +2%

48

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 5,700

460

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 67,300

Typical entry education: Associate'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. Reading Comprehension3.8
  2. Critical Thinking3.6
  3. Active Listening3.5
  4. Quality Control Analysis3.5
  5. Operations Monitoring3.1
  6. Active Learning3.4
  7. Monitoring3.3
  8. Equipment Maintenance3.0

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. High school or less27%
  2. Certificate9%
  3. Some college5%
  4. Associate degree41%
  5. Bachelor's degree14%
  6. Master's degree5%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Palo Alto
  • St. Philip's
  • Alamo Institutes
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