There are many reasons for a career change: your current field is in decline, new fields are taking off, or you might feel stuck in a career that does not fulfill you. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.2 million workers transfer from one occupational group to another in one year. On average, a person in the United States typically changes jobs 10 to 15 times in their lifetime.
If you decide to shift your current career, we encourage you to learn more about emerging occupations available today due to the recent development of technologies, investigate labor projections, wages, and education and training typically required for entry. On this page, we welcome you to learn more about the field of lasers, optics, photonics, and fiber optics, and the reasons why entering this field might be a good choice for you.
Lasers, optics, photonics, and fiber optic technologies (LOPFO) are advanced technologies enabling complex instrumentation used in the biomedical field, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, remote sensing, information technology, national defense, security, and many others.
Currently, our Nation is experiencing a shortage of professionals with knowledge and skills in these fields. Working and excelling in high-tech and emerging careers does not always require advanced degrees, as a matter a fact, the demand for technicians and technologists with two-year college credentials is all-time high.
Careers in this field offer stable employment, a dynamic work environment with higher-than-average wages. Photonics companies support industries that were declared essential during the most recent global pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19 disease. During those turbulent times, when many businesses had to close their doors, photonics companies indicated growth, sustained their employees, continued hiring, offered bonuses, and had enough assets to “ride out” bumpy market conditions.
Learn more about photonics, industries that employ laser, optics, photonics, and fiber optics technicians, their typical responsibilities, and median wages.
Many of our graduates found gainful employment with excellent opportunities before they even graduated from college. This opened many new doors for their professional and personal growth, provided financial stability, and got them on a career path in the fast-growing, engaging, and multidisciplinary field. There are over 2,500 companies in the U.S. that hire LOPFO technicians.
This map displays companies where LASER-TEC graduates work.
Learn more about our graduates.
There are over 2,500 lasers, photonics, optics, and fiber optics companies in the United States. Search by state and type of product or service.
If you decided that you are interested in becoming a technologist in the lasers, optics, photonics, and fiber optics field, we encourage you to investigate academic paths to achieve your goals. Very often, it will require obtaining a two-year degree, or a certificate at a college. There are over 40 colleges nationwide that have full LOPFO programs or certificate programs embedded in electronics engineering, general engineering, or other related programs. Many of them offer fast-track training with internship programs to help you get employed quickly.
