What they do
Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.
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Also called: |
Fiber Optics Technician, Laser Technician (Laser Tech), Optomechanical Technician, Photonic Laboratory Technician (Photonic Lab Tech), Photonics Technician, Ruling Technician
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Wages
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Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other* |
Vermont - 2023 |
Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
10% |
$ 17.83 |
$37,080 |
25% |
$ 22.91 |
$47,640 |
Median |
$ 26.61 |
$55,340 |
75% |
$ 35.90 |
$74,670 |
90% |
$ 38.99 |
$81,100 |
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Average |
$ 27.76 |
$57,730 |
* You're seeing information for "Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other" because it includes "Photonics Technicians" for which wage information is not available. |
1 What are Percentile Wages? |
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Industries of Employment
Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other* |
United States - 2020 |
Industry | Percent of total |
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
| 29% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 18% |
- Computer and electronic product manufacturing
| 6% |
- Transportation equipment manufacturing
| 5% |
- State government, excluding education and hospitals
| 5% |
* You're seeing information for "Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other" because it includes "Photonics Technicians" for which industries of employment information is not available. |
More at BLS |
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Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
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- Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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- Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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- Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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- Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
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Skills
People in this career often have these skills: |
- Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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- Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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- Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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- Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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- Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
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- Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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- Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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More at O*NET |
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Tasks
On the job, you would: |
- Maintain clean working environments, according to clean room standards.
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- Compute or record photonic test data.
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- Adjust or maintain equipment, such as lasers, laser systems, microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, or energy measurement devices.
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- Set up or operate assembly or processing equipment, such as lasers, cameras, die bonders, wire bonders, dispensers, reflow ovens, soldering irons, die shears, wire pull testers, temperature or humidity chambers, or optical spectrum analyzers.
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- Document procedures, such as calibration of optical or fiber optic equipment.
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More at O*NET |
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Related Occupations
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Projected Employment
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Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other* |
Vermont |
2020 employment |
175 |
2030 employment |
172 |
Annual percent change (compounded) |
-0.2% |
Annual projected job openings (due to change and separations) |
16 |
* You're seeing information for "Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other" because it includes "Photonics Technicians" for which projected employment information is not available. |
More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other* |
- Typical education needed for entry
Associate's degree
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
None
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* You're seeing information for "Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other" because it includes "Photonics Technicians" for which education and experience information is not available. |
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
- Physical activity is Somewhat Important
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Low | | High |
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Compare Occupations at O*NET |
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Job Zone
Medium Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(6.0 to < 7.0) - A typical worker will require
over 1 year up to and including 2 years
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have? |
Education level | | Percent of U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree or post-MA certificate | | 0% |
Master's degree or post-BA certificate | | 16% |
Bachelor's degree | | 12% |
Associate's degree | | 32% |
Certificate or some college, no degree | | 28% |
High school diploma or equivalent | | 12% |
Less than high school diploma | | 0% |
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Abilities
People in this career often have talent in: |
- Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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- Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
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- Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Work Activities
In general, what you might do: |
- Working with Computers
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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- Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day: |
- Maintain clean work areas.
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- Analyze test or validation data.
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- Document design or operational test results.
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- Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
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- Maintain electronic equipment.
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More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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