The salary trajectory of a Principal Optical Engineer ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $0 per year (estimate) and goes up to $0 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
The estimated average salary for a Principal Optical Engineer at MKS Instruments is $235,064 per year or $113 per hour, but some professionals have reported earning up to roughly $381,863 per year (90th percentile). The typical pay range is between $184,120 (25th percentile) and $305,013 (75th percentile) annually. This is based on 3 salaries submitted by MKS Instruments Principal Optical Engineer professionals on Glassdoor, as of Jul 2026.
Principal Optical Engineer professionals typically earn between $89 and $147 per hour.
Principal Optical Engineer professionals typically earn between $15,343 and $25,418 monthly.
Optical Engineer with an estimated total pay of $100K - $136K/yr