There are currently an estimated 132,500 photonics engineers in the United States. The photonics engineer job market is expected to grow by 6.4% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are photonics engineers?

CareerExplorer rates photonics engineers with a D employability rating, meaning this career should provide weak employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 12,500 photonics engineers. That number is based on 8,500 additional photonics engineers, and the retirement of 4,000 existing photonics engineers.

What’s the supply of photonics engineers?

The photonics engineer industry is concentrated in California, Texas, Florida

Photonics Engineer job market by state

State Name Employed Photonics Engineers
California 17,820
Texas 10,760
Florida 8,020
Michigan 7,350
Ohio 6,870
Maryland 4,790
Virginia 4,640
Louisiana 4,580
Pennsylvania 4,440
Illinois 4,350
New York 4,100
New Jersey 3,580
Alabama 3,580
Tennessee 3,320
Georgia 3,150
Washington 3,130
Massachusetts 2,860
District of Columbia 2,720
Minnesota 2,640
Colorado 2,580
Oregon 2,500
Arizona 2,210
New Mexico 2,170
Indiana 2,110
Iowa 1,560
North Carolina 1,550
Wisconsin 1,180
Missouri 1,150
Utah 1,080
Oklahoma 1,080
Connecticut 1,040
Kentucky 830
Alaska 790
Hawaii 670
Maine 600
Arkansas 590
Kansas 560
Nebraska 530
South Carolina 530
New Hampshire 460
Rhode Island 430
Idaho 420
Mississippi 410
Nevada 390
West Virginia 310
North Dakota 290
Puerto Rico 210
Montana 190
Vermont 120
Wyoming 100