Do you have a passion for STEM?
You’re on the right track because STEM-related careers are forecast to grow by more than 8% over the next decade. This growth is more than twice the national average.
STEM covers a long list of topics, including optics.
Why are more students and professionals gravitating toward this field?
Learn why optics is one of the fastest-growing STEM jobs!
1. Optics and Job Security
Faster than average career growth is a great sign if you want job security.
Secure jobs provide financial stability, health benefits, paid time off, retirement plans, and more perks. Since there are more STEM careers than art careers, you’re more likely to find a secure job.
You don’t need a doctorate to break into the optics industry either. You’ll find a range of careers within the industry, including secure entry-level jobs. There are optics assembly jobs that don’t require a college degree either.
Education Tips for Aspiring Optics Professionals
It’s not difficult to find optics training. Many optics professionals earned optical engineering degrees at state or private colleges. There are also online courses and community college classes that are applicable toward optics degrees.
If you don’t have an optical engineering degree, you can still find work in the optics field with the following degrees:
- Mechanical engineering
- General engineering
- Chemical engineering
- General sciences
- Physics
- Astrophysics
- Mathematics
A B.S. degree in optical engineering is typically required for entry-level optical engineering jobs.
College degrees are not required for the following roles, but they are helpful:
- Optics assembly
- Optics warehousing
- Optical fabrication technician (or fabricator)
- Coating Technician
While you don’t need a B.S. to secure one of these roles, advanced math and science courses are helpful. Courses include high school trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus. You can take these courses at your local community college.
If you want to become an application engineer, you’ll need a B.S. degree in optical engineering or a related field. Laser engineers typically need master’s degrees at a minimum.
2. Start a Rewarding Teaching Career
You don’t have to become an engineer or a technician with your optical sciences degree. Use your degree to build a fulfilling teaching career.
Do you love explaining complex topics in a simple, relatable, and creative way? Schools need natural teachers like you to inspire students. You could be the reason why a young person pursues a STEM career.
You don’t even have to teach in person.
More schools and physics programs are switching to online learning platforms. You can teach everything from college to K-12 classes online. There are also online tutoring jobs in math and physics.
You need at least a bachelor’s degree to teach K-12 math and science. However, teaching credentials are strictly required for public schools. Some private schools and programs don’t require teaching credentials.
Teaching credentials require one to two years of additional courses. You also have to take required teaching exams.
Credential requirements vary in each state. Some may require additional courses. If you’re teaching out of state, ensure you have the credential requirements for that state.
Other Optics Education Jobs to Consider
Teaching is just one route to consider on your education career path.
Optical sciences open doors to non-teaching education jobs, like academic research, lab management, grant writing, and more.
For example, spherical optics don’t create themselves. High-grade products require a team of engineers, designers, QA analysts, and researchers.
Researchers conduct studies and gather information prior to manufacture. Imagine yourself in this role. Put your research cap on and find more information about spherical optics to improve product development.
Do you love working behind the scenes?
Develop your own line of optics educational technology!
Kids love prisms and light, which makes optics such a great subject for educational technology. As an idea, create an optics toolbox with the following items:
- Real prisms
- Black lights
- Diffraction grating cards
- Spherical mirrors
- Spectroscope
- Color paddles
- Optical illusions
You could sell these kits directly to schools or toy stores. It’s much easier to work with a vendor that can distribute your kits for you. Toy fairs are an excellent way to meet vendors and B2B customers.
3. Science Meets Art
Who could forget a perfect double rainbow on a clear day? How about those little rainbows that appear at the bottom of a waterfall?
Natural optical phenomena have inspired artists for centuries. You wouldn’t be the first STEM enthusiast turned artist. You’re in good company with Leonardo da Vinci, John James Audubon, and Maria Sibylla Merian.
Fine arts is only one creative career path.
You could use your optics training to create science-inspired decor items. These products are a hit with Etsy buyers and specialty boutiques. You could also sell your unique goods at craft fairs.
For example, you could craft prism necklaces and earrings. Simple handcrafted prisms would also be a hit. You could sell your prisms in hand-carved boxes with velveteen lining.
Bust out your STEM training again to create a beautiful website for your optical art. This is the perfect opportunity to brush up on your coding.
If you want to save time, use eCommerce plugins to transform a WordPress website into an actual online store.
You have a rare opportunity to educate through art. Seek out resident artist opportunities at galleries. You could even give talks at TED conferences and science museums.
A career in optics could also take you around the world. You don’t have to be a traveling artist. You could teach physics in another country or study optical science abroad in your dream location.
Discover the Possibilities of Optical Science
Could optics be the right field for you?
Consider these reasons as you plan your career. A future in STEM is full of opportunities.
You could always use more resources on your career journey. Follow the blog to discover more tips and tools for the future.
