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Photonics Technicians

Manufacturing · Manufacturing Production Process Development

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 17-3029.08

Pay and outlook shown for

$71,150
median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
$40k10th$71kMedian$103k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $40,320, 25th $53,060, Median $71,150, 75th $85,630, 90th $103,420

New workers start near $40,320; experienced workers reach $103,420. About 330 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.

Job outlook

Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.

Employment change
+15.0%
Alamo region, 460 to 529 jobs · U.S. +2%
Openings a year
48
in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 5,700
Employed in 2024
460
in the Alamo region · U.S. 67,300

Typical entry education: Associate's degree

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

11 programs, with the college that teaches each.

  1. Computer Sciences and Technology

    Degree · Certificate · Online · Science & Technology

  2. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

    Certificate · Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics

  3. Biomedical Engineering Technology

    Degree · Certificate · Health & Biosciences

  4. Cisco Network Professional

    Degree · Certificate · Science & Technology

  5. Computer Engineering Technology

    Degree · Science & Technology

  6. Full Stack Developer

    Degree · Certificate · Online · Science & Technology

  7. Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist

    Degree · Certificate · Online · Science & Technology

  8. Information Technology Network Administrator

    Degree · Certificate · Online · Science & Technology

  9. Office Systems Technology

    Degree · Certificate · Online · Business & Entrepreneurship

  10. Power Generation and Alternative Energy

    Degree · Certificate · Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics

Showing 10 of 11.

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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

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.

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.

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  7. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

    Zone 3

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  8. Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

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