Aerospace/Astronomy
Powerful telescopes with huge mirrors and sensitive detectors look deep into the sky to learn how stars are born, how they die, and how our universe got started in the first place. Modern optics exposes the farthest reaches of the cosmos.
Salary: $84,455-85,000

Biomedical Technology
Surgeons, ophthalmologists, and dentists make use of the magic laser beam to perform bloodless surgery in the operating room, thread light and fiber optic "flashlights" through veins and arteries, weld detached retinas in our eyes, and help fill cavities in our teeth.
Salary: $100,000-133,857

Chemical/Pharmaceutical
Combinations of special lasers and precise optical instruments help medical scientists observe and study the activity of human cells in our bodies. Based on their studies, these scientists formulate special drugs and recommend specific cures to safeguard our health.
Salary: $78,143-79,500

Communications
Lasers and fiber optics team up to send voice and video signals through tiny strands of glass, over land and under water to help people keep in touch with one another all over the world.
Salary: $98,267-100,000

Defense
Advanced optical systems use infrared light to detect heat emitting objects (like truck engines and warm bodies) in absolute darkness. Other systems use visible and ultraviolet light to investigate crime scenes and identify threats to our homeland security.
Salary: $80,000-85,200

Imaging
Techniques utilized in a spectrum of careers from the film industry, to graphic design, to areas such as remote sensing continue to expand and grow as improvements in both lasers and optical computing transform imaging technologies and thus drive these fields.
Salary: Information not available

Laboratory/University
Scientists, engineers and technicians work together to probe the mysteries of atomic and molecular motions and forces in order to advance our understanding of matter and energy. Working with many different lasers, they use spectroscopy to analyze chemical compounds, and atomic
investigations to move atoms with "optical tweezers."
Salary:$50,000-54,682

Lighting and Illumination
Artists, technicians, and lighting engineers pool their talents to use lasers and light in projects that range from dazzling laser light shows, to improving displays we see on computer monitors, cell phones, and automobile dashboards, to increasing the intelligent use of illumination in buildings.
Salary: Information not available

Manufacturing Equipment
High-power infrared lasers are used in special jigs and optical systems in our modern factories to melt, cut, drill, weld and mark metals, alloys and plastics rapidly and with great precision. This benefits manufacturing, materials processing, alignment, metrology and inspection.
Salary: $64,000-74,675

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
MEMS integrates mechanical / electrical elements, sensors, and actuators on a common silicon substrate made through micro-fabrication, replicating real-size electromechanical devices on the scale of a thousandth of an inch.
Salary: Information not available

Optical Storage
Efficient optical data storage systems use the unique features of laser light to store digital data in tiny bits on special light-sensitive surfaces, creating for us voice, music, pictures and information on commercial products such as the common CD and DVD.  
Salary: $80,000-86,237

Optoelectronics
Optics, lasers, and electronics team up to develop smaller, higher capacity semiconductor chips powering future computer technology. Micro and nano technology optoelectronic devices successfully move atoms and molecules around in various locations to form powerful crystal structures.
Salary: $100,000-120,923

Photonics
Just as elemental silicon has propelled a revolution in microelectronics, compound semiconductors have powered a revolution in photonics. Entire multi-functioning systems on a micro semiconductor chip will bring forth innovative photonics devices, including high efficiency lighting.
Salary: $80,000-86,237

Pollution Control / Environmental Monitoring
Special lasers in the infrared, ultraviolet, and visible are used to test for air pollution in cities and around smokestack industries, analyze water samples in our lakes and rivers, and look down on the earth from satellites to determine the "health" of our atmosphere and green vegetation.
Salary: Information not available