Salary of Laser Technicians
Advances in laser technology have created new career fields in a number of industries. Today, laser technicians are employed in medicine, telecommunications, aerospace, alternative energy and cosmetic industries. Laser technicians assemble, calibrate, test and maintain laser devices. Laser technicians may be involved in the creation, building, installation, testing or use of laser equipment.
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Salary
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lumps laser technicians into a category with other engineering technicians. In 2008, the median annual wages for electrical and electronic engineering technicians was $53,240, according to the BLS. Persons in the top 10 percent of the salary range earned more than $78,000, while those in the lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,000. Technicians employed in the aerospace industry earned the highest annual median salary, $52,150, while technicians employed in the architectural, engineering and related industries earned the lowest median salary of $41,100.
Hourly Wage
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Education Online lists the average hourly wage for laser technicians as $19. Aside from wages, most laser technicians work in positions that offer medical, insurance, paid time off and retirement benefits.
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Geographic Location
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The average annual salary for laser technicians differs by geographic location. The average annual salary for laser technicians in Houston in 2011 was $55,347, according to salary information complied by the Economic Research Institute. Technicians working in Dallas average slightly less, with average annual incomes of $54,038. In the east, the average annual salary for laser technicians was $53,560 in Atlanta, $52,788 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and $52,544 in Miami. In the large metropolitan area of New York, the average annual salary was $61,185. In the central U.S., laser technicians in Indianapolis, Indiana, averaged $52,703, while technicians working in the southwestern city of Phoenix averaged $52,175 annually.
Careers
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Career options for laser technicians are partially dependent on education and training. Most degree plans include courses in electronics, physics and mechanics. Technicians with an associate's degree in Laser/Electro-Optics Technology (LEOT) can work in electro-optics or electronics technology. Technicians with engineering degrees may be employed as lead technicians or engineering technicians. The demand for laser technicians is such that some corporations offer on-the-job training or allow technicians to continue school while working.
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References
- Education Portal: Laser Technician Job Duties, Salary Info and Career Options
- Education Online: Laser Technician
- State University: Laser Technician Job Description
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Engineering Technicians
- Economic Research Institute: Laser Technician Salary Survey Data
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
