▼28%
$116,072
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$78k
MEDIAN
$116k
90%
$166k
The average salary for an Optical Engineer is $116,072 in 2026
Base Salary
$78k - $166k
Bonus
$2k - $24k
Profit Sharing
$2k - $48k
Total Pay
$75k - $172k
Is Average Optical Engineer Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Optical Engineers?
What Do Optical Engineers Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
How do Optical Engineers Rate Their Jobs?
Based on 10 responses, the job of Optical Engineer has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.9 out of 5. On average, Optical Engineers are highly satisfied with their job.
Common Health Benefits for a Optical Engineer
Medical
87%
Dental
78%
Vision
71%
None
13%
Gender Breakdown for Optical Engineers
Male
82.3%
Female
17.7%
This data is based on 62 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Optical Engineers
What is the highest pay for Optical Engineers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for an Optical Engineer is $166k / year
What is the lowest pay for Optical Engineers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for an Optical Engineer is $78k / year
How can Optical Engineers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as an Optical Engineer is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are an Optical Engineer that oversees more junior Optical Engineers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.