What are the main factors that influence an Optical Engineer III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Optical Engineer 's salary?

An Optical Engineer 's salary grows with experience: an Optical Engineer I (2-4 years)earns $95,602, an Optical Engineer II (4-7 years)earns $122,092, an Optical Engineer III (7+ years)earns $142,092, an Optical Engineer IV (7-10 years)earns $185,437,

What are the highest paying states for an Optical Engineer III?

Optical Engineer III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Optical Engineer III roles are District of Columbia $154,999, California $154,411, Massachusetts $152,353. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Optical Engineer roles make?

Salaries for Optical Engineer level roles vary by specialization: Optical Engineer IV: $182,697; Optical Design Engineer III: $140,000; Optical Engineer II: $120,288; Senior Optical Engineer: $104,766; Optical Design Engineer: $97,849.

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Optical Engineer III Salary in Delaware

How much does an Optical Engineer III make in Delaware?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for an Optical Engineer III in Delaware is $142,092 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $68.

However, an Optical Engineer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,625
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $133,562 to $149,699
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $125,796

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Optical Engineer III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$149,699	$12,475	$2,879	$72
Average	$142,092	$11,841	$2,733	$68
25th Percentile	$133,562	$11,130	$2,568	$64

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Optical Engineer III Salaries

An Optical Engineer III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Optical Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical Engineer III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Optical Engineer I (2-4 years): $95,602
Optical Engineer II (4-7 years): $122,092
Optical Engineer III (7+ years): $142,092
Optical Engineer IV (7-10 years): $185,437

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Optical Engineer I	2-4 years	$95,602
Optical Engineer II	4-7 years	$122,092
Optical Engineer III	7+ years	$142,092
Optical Engineer IV	7-10 years	$185,437

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Optical Engineer III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Optical Engineer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $154,999.
California: $154,411.
Massachusetts: $152,353.

District of Columbia $154,999 California $154,411 Massachusetts $152,353 Washington $151,793 New Jersey $151,737 Alaska $151,541 Connecticut $149,609 New York $148,825

Hawaii $146,320 Rhode Island $145,144 Maryland $144,346 Minnesota $143,254 Colorado $142,834 Illinois $142,694 Oregon $142,162 Delaware $141,770

New Hampshire $141,524 Virginia $140,972 Pennsylvania $139,362 Nevada $138,550 North Dakota $138,284 Michigan $137,864 Wisconsin $137,710 Vermont $137,402

Texas $136,548 Maine $136,492 Arizona $136,408 Ohio $136,310 Georgia $135,022 Indiana $134,378 Wyoming $134,252 Utah $134,056

Iowa $133,972 Kansas $133,300 Louisiana $133,104 North Carolina $133,034 Missouri $133,006 Florida $132,460 Montana $132,166 Nebraska $131,886

Kentucky $131,732 South Carolina $131,173 Tennessee $130,823 Idaho $130,683 New Mexico $129,661 Oklahoma $129,437 Alabama $128,611 South Dakota $127,225

Arkansas $126,469 West Virginia $126,063 Mississippi $124,845

Top Paying Cities for Optical Engineer IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $146,726
Little Creek: $145,368
Magnolia: $145,970

Lincoln, DE $146,726 Little Creek, DE $145,368 Magnolia, DE $145,970 Milford, DE $146,726 Marydel, DE $144,822 Millsboro, DE $146,726 Millville, DE $147,706 Milton, DE $146,726

Nassau, DE $146,726 Ocean View, DE $147,706 Rehoboth Beach, DE $147,706 Seaford, DE $145,186 Selbyville, DE $147,706 Smyrna, DE $144,654 Viola, DE $145,970 Woodside, DE $145,550

Bear, DE $143,590 Newark, DE $143,646 Claymont, DE $143,758 Delaware City, DE $143,646 Hockessin, DE $143,758 Kirkwood, DE $143,646 Middletown, DE $144,360 Montchanin, DE $143,758

New Castle, DE $143,758 Odessa, DE $144,556 Port Penn, DE $143,254 Rockland, DE $143,758 Saint Georges, DE $143,646 Townsend, DE $144,346 Winterthur, DE $143,758 Lewes, DE $146,726

Wilmington, DE $143,758 Dover, DE $145,298 Dover Afb, DE $145,634 Bethany Beach, DE $147,706 Bethel, DE $145,186 Bridgeville, DE $146,726 Camden Wyoming, DE $145,452 Cheswold, DE $144,962

Clayton, DE $144,598 Dagsboro, DE $147,706 Delmar, DE $145,186 Ellendale, DE $146,726 Felton, DE $146,726 Fenwick Island, DE $147,706 Frankford, DE $147,706 Frederica, DE $146,726

Georgetown, DE $146,726 Greenwood, DE $146,726 Harbeson, DE $146,726 Harrington, DE $146,726 Hartly, DE $144,528 Houston, DE $146,726 Kenton, DE $144,598 Laurel, DE $145,186

Yorklyn, DE $143,758

Optical Engineer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Optical Engineer III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

$133,562

Average $142,092/year

$149,699

$11,130

Average $11,841/month

$12,475

$2,568

Average $2,733/week

$2,879

$64

Average $68/hour

$72

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$149,699	$12,475	$2,879	$72
Average	$142,092	$11,841	$2,733	$68
25th Percentile	$133,562	$11,130	$2,568	$64

Optical Engineer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Optical Engineer III

Optical Engineer IV

For an Optical Engineer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Optical Engineer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $185,437 - a projected growth of 31% over your current level.

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