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Applystead salaries · 218 posted pay ranges

Optical Engineer salaries

Pay ranges employers published in 218 open job postings for Optical Engineer roles at 98 companies, updated Nov 14, 2026.

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Posted base pay ranges from job listings, not total compensation. Figures are in USD; 6 more postings in CAD (median CA$122K), 3 more postings in SGD (median SGD 57K). How these figures are made

Pay distribution

Optical Engineer: postings by posted pay209 postings by the midpoint of their pay range, in 16 bands from $60K to $220K. Median $159K; middle half $127K–$187K.Median $159K$60K$220K

Postings per pay band: $60K–$70K: 11; $70K–$80K: 5; $80K–$90K: 3; $90K–$100K: 0; $100K–$110K: 15; $110K–$120K: 9; $120K–$130K: 14; $130K–$140K: 19; $140K–$150K: 15; $150K–$160K: 15; $160K–$170K: 12; $170K–$180K: 26; $180K–$190K: 16; $190K–$200K: 14; $200K–$210K: 18; $210K–$220K: 17.

Pay by level

  1. Intern$32.50/hr ($67.6K/yr) median, $30.00–$33.85/hr typical, 17 postingsIntern: middle half $30.00–$33.85/hr, median $32.50/hr ($67.6K/yr)
  2. Entry level$108K median, $87.5K–$116K typical, 10 postingsEntry level: middle half $87.5K–$116K, median $108K
  3. Mid level$145K median, $125K–$161K typical, 69 postingsMid level: middle half $125K–$161K, median $145K
  4. Senior$170K median, $133K–$180K typical, 44 postingsSenior: middle half $133K–$180K, median $170K
  5. Staff$191K median, $174K–$210K typical, 20 postingsStaff: middle half $174K–$210K, median $191K
  6. Principal$185K median, $175K–$209K typical, 49 postingsPrincipal: middle half $175K–$209K, median $185K

Companies hiring

  1. BAE Systems$159K median, $107K–$180K typical, 17 postingsBAE Systems: middle half $107K–$180K, median $159K
  2. Northrop Grumman$135K median, $135K–$187K typical, 9 postingsNorthrop Grumman: middle half $135K–$187K, median $135K
  3. Microsoft$209K median, $209K–$209K typical, 8 postingsMicrosoft: middle half $209K–$209K, median $209K
  4. Boeing$108K median, $108K–$132K typical, 7 postingsBoeing: middle half $108K–$132K, median $108K

Top-paying companies

  1. Aeva · $213K median, 4 postings
  2. Microsoft · $209K median, 8 postings
  3. ChartHop · $209K median, 3 postings
  4. Koch Engineered Solutions · $190K median, 3 postings

By location

  1. United States$160K median, $127K–$189K typical, 202 postingsUnited States: middle half $127K–$189K, median $160K
  2. California$174K median, $146K–$193K typical, 81 postingsCalifornia: middle half $146K–$193K, median $174K
  3. New Hampshire$159K median, $107K–$180K typical, 15 postingsNew Hampshire: middle half $107K–$180K, median $159K
  4. Milpitas, CA$146K median, $145K–$174K typical, 15 postingsMilpitas, CA: middle half $145K–$174K, median $146K
  5. Remote$175K median, $138K–$195K typical, 3 postingsRemote: middle half $138K–$195K, median $175K

Remote vs on-site

Remote: $175K median, $138K–$195K typical, from 3 postings. On-site: $159K median, $116K–$189K typical, from 150 postings.

Newest Optical Engineer postings

  1. Principal Optical EngineerMKS · Irvine, CA · $175K–$195K/yr · Posted Nov 13, 2026
  2. Principal Optical EngineerMicrosoft · United States · $143K–$275K/yr · Posted Nov 13, 2026
  3. Principal Optical EngineerMicrosoft · United States · $143K–$275K/yr · Posted Nov 13, 2026
  4. Principal Optical EngineerChartHop · United States · $143K–$275K/yr · Posted Nov 13, 2026
  5. Principal Optical EngineerChartHop · United States · $143K–$275K/yr · Posted Nov 13, 2026
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Questions and answers

How much does a Optical Engineer make?

The median posted base pay for Optical Engineer jobs is $159K a year, from 218 job postings with pay at 98 companies.

What is the typical Optical Engineer pay range?

The middle half of postings list $127K–$187K. The top 10% list $209K a year or more, and the lowest 10% $100K or less.

Which companies pay the most for Optical Engineer jobs?

By median posted pay: Aeva ($213K), Microsoft ($209K), ChartHop ($209K).

How does Optical Engineer pay change with level?

Median posted pay by level read from job titles: Intern $32.50/hr ($67.6K/yr), Entry level $108K, Mid level $145K, Senior $170K, Staff $191K, Principal $185K.

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