Jobs Similar to Photonics Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to photonics engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Electronics Engineers, Fuel Cell Engineers and Nanosystems Engineers.
Photonics Engineers: $122,930 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Photonics Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerSame group | 82% | $130,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Fuel Cell EngineersSame group | 82% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Nanosystems EngineersSame group | 80% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Microsystems EngineersSame group | 79% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Computer Hardware EngineersSame group | 79% | $161,740 | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mechatronics EngineersSame group | 78% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 77% | $74,510 | Training or associate |
| 8 | Robotics EngineersSame group | 77% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Automotive EngineersSame group | 76% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Materials EngineersSame group | 76% | $112,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Nuclear EngineersSame group | 76% | $133,970 | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Mechanical EngineersSame group | 76% | $104,110 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Bioengineers and Biomedical EngineersSame group | 75% | $109,370 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Agricultural EngineersSame group | 75% | $98,590 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Aerospace EngineersSame group | 75% | $134,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $66,120 | Training or associate |
| 17 | Chemical EngineersSame group | 75% | $125,040 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Electrical EngineersSame group | 74% | $120,630 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Materials Scientists | 74% | $117,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Physicists | 73% | $172,250 | Graduate degree |
- 1Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
82% similar · $130,220 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Fuel Cell Engineers
82% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Nanosystems Engineers
80% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Microsystems Engineers
79% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Computer Hardware Engineers
79% similar · $161,740 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Mechatronics Engineers
78% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
77% similar · $74,510 · Training or associate
- 8Robotics Engineers
77% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Automotive Engineers
76% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Materials Engineers
76% similar · $112,860 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Nuclear Engineers
76% similar · $133,970 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Mechanical Engineers
76% similar · $104,110 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
75% similar · $109,370 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Agricultural Engineers
75% similar · $98,590 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Aerospace Engineers
75% similar · $134,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $66,120 · Training or associate
- 17Chemical Engineers
75% similar · $125,040 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Electrical Engineers
74% similar · $120,630 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Materials Scientists
74% similar · $117,790 · Bachelor's degree
- 20Physicists
73% similar · $172,250 · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for photonics engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where photonics engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (72)
- Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (70)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (70)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (67)
- Chemists (67)
- Mechanical Drafters (66)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (65)
- Computer Network Architects (65)
- Software Developers (61)
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators (51)
Questions about jobs like photonics engineers
What jobs are most similar to photonics engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Electronics Engineers (82% similar), Fuel Cell Engineers (82% similar), Nanosystems Engineers (80% similar), Microsystems Engineers (79% similar) and Computer Hardware Engineers (79% similar).
Do jobs like photonics engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than photonics engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.