Average Optical Instrument Assembler Salary in Tonga for 2026
In this article, we will look at the average Optical Instrument Assembler salary for 2026 in Tonga and how that compares to other countries and professions. We'll also look at interesting salary data points like median salary, 25th and 75th percentile salaries, salary amounts based on experience, bonus ranges and more!
The data in this article has been compiled using official government salary data, salary surveys, and other sources such as job postings which contain salary information.
All salary information is in the local currency, which is the Tongan paʻanga. To keep things simple, we are using the TOP currency code instead of the currency symbol T$.
How Much Does an Optical Instrument Assembler Make in Tonga?
An Optical Instrument Assembler working in Tonga will typically earn around 9,460 TOP per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about 6,700 TOP to the highest average salary of 17,020 TOP.
These are average salaries for an Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga and include benefits such as housing and transport. It's also possible for an Optical Instrument Assembler to earn more or less than the average salaries shown above.
Optical Instrument Assembler salaries will vary a lot based on your experience, location, skills, and gender. Keep reading below to research more data on each of these areas.
Distribution of Optical Instrument Assembler Salaries in Tonga
So we've looked at the average salaries an Optical Instrument Assembler will earn in Tonga. The next interesting data point is the distribution of salaries.
Salary ranges
We already know that an Optical Instrument Assembler can earn between 6,700 TOP and 17,020 TOP on average in Tonga. This is known as the range in statistics.
The difference between the maximum and minimum values is a good indicator of variability in salaries, and can be used by employers to figure out how much they can expect to pay, and for employees to know how much they can earn.
Median salary
The median salary for an Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga is 9,440 TOP. This is the middle value in the distribution of salaries.
What this means is that approximately 50% of the population earn less than 9,440 TOP, and 50% of the population earn more than 9,440 TOP.
If you are earning more than the median salary, that's a good indicator that you are being paid well.
If you're not earning more than the median salary, your objective should be to increase your earnings to be at least as high as the median salary (which you can do by asking for a pay rise, looking for a better paying job, etc).
Percentiles
Percentiles are similar to the median salary, but instead of looking at the middle value, they look at the values in the top and bottom half of the distribution.
For the average Optical Instrument Assembler salary in Tonga, 25% of the population are earning less than 5,200 TOP while 75% of the population earn more than 5,200 TOP.
75% of the population earn less than 12,760 TOP, and 25% of the population earn more than 12,760 TOP.
Like the median salary, the 25th and 75th percentile salaries can be used to determine which quartile you fall into so that you know whether you are being paid well enough compared to others in your profession and location.
The difference between a median and an average salary
The median and average salary are both indicators you can use to see if you are being paid fairly based on the overall population.
- If your salary is higher than the average and the median salary, you are earning well compared to others.
- If your salary is lower than the average and the median salary, it could indicate you are not being paid well enough.
- If you are somewhere in between then it's tricky to determine if you are being paid well enough and you might need to research more closely.
Optical Instrument Assembler Salary by Experience Level in Tonga
The most important factor in determining your salary after the specific profession is the number of years experience you have. It stands to reason that more years of experience will result in a higher wage.
We have researched the average Optical Instrument Assembler salary based on years of experience to give you an idea of how the average changes once you've worked for a certain amount of time.
- 0 - 2 Years Experience. An Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga that has less than two years of experience can expect to earn somewhere in the region of 5,040 TOP.
- 2 - 5 Years Experience. With two to five years of experience the average Optical Instrument Assembler salary would increase to 8,420 TOP.
- 5 - 10 Years Experience. From five to ten years of experience as an Optical Instrument Assembler, the average salary would be 9,740 TOP.
- 10 - 15 Years Experience. Once you have more than ten years of experience the average salary reaches around 11,040 TOP.
- 15 - 20 Years Experience. An Optical Instrument Assembler with 15 to 20 years of experience can earn an average of 13,960 TOP.
- 20+ Years Experience. For an Optical Instrument Assembler with more than 20 years, the expected average salary increases to 14,920 TOP.
Average Salary by Experience Chart
| 0-2 Years | - | 5,040 TOP |
| 2-5 Years | +26% | 8,420 TOP |
| 5-10 Years | +32% | 9,740 TOP |
| 10-15 Years | +18% | 11,040 TOP |
| 15-20 Years | +11% | 13,960 TOP |
| 20+ Years | +6% | 14,920 TOP |
Optical Instrument Assembler Salary by Education Level in Tonga
As well as experience in a job, your education plays a big role in how much you can earn. A lot of higher paying positions require a high level of education, but how much can a degree increase your salary?
In our research we have compared the salaries of employees in the same job and career level with different levels of education to see how much more you can earn at each education level.
The salary you can earn based on your education is very specific to both your location and the career path you choose.
In our research, we looked at the average salary for an Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga based on the education level of the employees in order to find out whether a better education level would increase your salary.
- High School. An Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga with a high school education can earn an average salary of 8,420 TOP.
- Certificate or Diploma. An Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga with a certificate or diploma education can earn an average salary of 12,300 TOP.
- Bachelor's Degree. An Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga with a bachelor's degree education can earn an average salary of 12,620 TOP.
Average Salary by Education Chart
| High School | - | 8,420 TOP |
| Certificate or Diploma | +37% | 12,300 TOP |
| Bachelor's Degree | +29% | 12,620 TOP |
How Much is a Master's Degree or MBA Program?
The approximate cost of a master's degree or post-graduate program like an MBA in Tonga is around 9,110 to 27,300 TOP and takes two years to complete.
As you can see above, there are financial benefits from reaching master's degree level, but don't expect to see much of a salary increase until you have completed the degree.
It's common for people to pursue an MBA or other post-graduate program in order to switch to a a job that pays more. On average, you can expect to earn around 10% more when switching to a new company.
Whether you decide to pursue a master's degree depends on many factors. If you are able to afford it, the numbers suggest that the return on investment is worth it and you could recover the costs in a few years from the salary increase you would receive.
Optical Instrument Assembler Salary Compared by Gender
In the modern age, we know that there should never be a pay gap between men and women. Unfortunately, in many professions, there is still a significant difference between the salaries earned by men when compared to the salary of women in the same job.
In Tonga, a male optical instrument assembler will earn an average of 12,020 TOP, while a female optical instrument assembler will earn around 10,380 TOP.
This means that a male optical instrument assembler earns approximately 16% more than a female optical instrument assembler for performing the same job.
Average Salary by Gender Chart in Tonga
| Male | - | 12,020 TOP |
| Female | -16% | 10,380 TOP |
Optical Instrument Assembler Average Pay Raise in Tonga
In many countries, an annual pay raise is often given to employees to reward their service with a salary increase.
From our research, we can see that the average pay raise for an Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga is around 7% every 28 months.
The national average pay raise across all professions and industries in Tonga is around 5% every 28 months.
In this case, we can see that the number of months between the average pay raise is higher than the typical 12 months.
To make the data more meaningful, we can calculate what the approximate annual pay raise would be using a simple formula:
Annual Increase = ( Increase Rate ÷ Months ) × 12
So for this example, it would be:
Annual Increase = ( 7 ÷ 28 ) × 12 = 3%
What this means is that an Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga can expect to receive an average pay raise of around 3% every 12 months.
Annual Pay Raise by Industry in Tonga for 2026
In the chart below, you can see the average annual pay raise percentages for each of the major industries in Tonga.
You will see that companies in bigger and more lucrative industries tend to have the higher annual pay raises.
| Banking | - | 2% |
| Energy | - | 4% |
| Information Technology | - | 6% |
| Healthcare | - | 8% |
| Travel | - | 1% |
| Construction | - | 3% |
| Education | - | 5% |
Optical Instrument Assembler Bonus and Incentive Rates in Tonga
Another part of your overall compensation in a job is how much bonus you receive. Some job roles will be more likely to pay a bonus than others and also more likely to have higher bonus rates.
Generally speaking, jobs that are more involved with direct revenue generation will receive higher bonuses based on the performance towards revenue goals.
An Optical Instrument Assembler is a low bonus based job, with 7% of employees reporting at least one bonus in the last 12 months.
93% reported that they had not received any bonuses in the previous 12 months.
For the employees that did receive a bonus in the previous 12 months, the reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 2%.
| Received Bonus | - | 7% |
| No Bonus | - | 93% |
What are the Types of Bonus?
There are a number of difference types of bonus you can receive in a job. Including:
- Individual performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee for general performance in the job. It's the most common type of bonus.
- Company performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to a company employees to share profit with the staff.
- Goal based bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee (or a team) for achieving specific goals, objectives, or milestones.
- Holiday bonus - This type of bonus is usually paid around the holidays, often the end of the year, and is a token of appreciation for the hard work throughout the year.
Government vs Private Sector Salaries
Another commonly asked question is whether you get paid a higher salary working in the public (government) sector or the private sector.
Public sector employees in Tonga earn approximately 16% more than private sector employees in the same role.
| Public Sector | - | 22,660 TOP |
| Private Sector | -16% | 19,480 TOP |
Salaries for Jobs Similar to an Optical Instrument Assembler
In the table below, we have salary information for jobs that are similar to an Optical Instrument Assembler in Tonga.
| Job Title | Category | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustics Engineer | Engineering | 18,900 TOP |
| Assembly Engineering Technician | Engineering | 17,260 TOP |
| Assistant Chief Engineer | Engineering | 21,980 TOP |
| Associate Engineer | Engineering | 18,780 TOP |
| AutoCAD Drafter | Engineering | 13,660 TOP |
| Autocad Operator | Engineering | 10,980 TOP |
| Automation Engineer | Engineering | 21,560 TOP |
| Automation Engineer | Engineering | 23,400 TOP |
| Avionic System Support Engineer | Engineering | 19,860 TOP |
| BMS Engineer | Engineering | 16,140 TOP |
| Biochemical Engineer | Engineering | 20,300 TOP |
| Bridge and Lock Tender | Engineering | 10,220 TOP |
| Broadcast Engineer | Engineering | 19,380 TOP |
| CAD Design Engineer | Engineering | 21,020 TOP |
| CAD Designer | Engineering | 13,780 TOP |
| CAE Engineer | Engineering | 20,520 TOP |
| Ceramics Engineer | Engineering | 17,740 TOP |
| Chemical Engineer | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Civil Drafter | Engineering | 12,200 TOP |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | 19,480 TOP |
| Civil Site Engineer | Engineering | 20,500 TOP |
| Civil Technician | Engineering | 12,180 TOP |
| Commissioning Engineer | Engineering | 20,500 TOP |
| Communications Engineer | Engineering | 20,940 TOP |
| Condition Monitoring Engineer | Engineering | 15,920 TOP |
| Contract Associate Engineer | Engineering | 19,360 TOP |
| Contract Engineer | Engineering | 19,020 TOP |
| Control Systems Engineer | Engineering | 19,860 TOP |
| Controls Engineer | Engineering | 20,120 TOP |
| Controls Software Engineer | Engineering | 18,780 TOP |
| Corrosion Engineer | Engineering | 19,640 TOP |
| Design Engineer | Engineering | 20,500 TOP |
| Director of Engineering | Engineering | 41,700 TOP |
| Drafter | Engineering | 13,700 TOP |
| Drafting Manager | Engineering | 24,820 TOP |
| Drilling Engineer | Engineering | 18,900 TOP |
| Drilling Foreman | Engineering | 6,180 TOP |
| Electrical Draughtsman | Engineering | 7,820 TOP |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | 23,380 TOP |
| Electrical Engineering Manager | Engineering | 30,800 TOP |
| Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | Engineering | 20,460 TOP |
| Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | Engineering | 10,220 TOP |
| Energy Engineer | Engineering | 21,020 TOP |
| Engine Assembler | Engineering | 9,360 TOP |
| Engineer | Engineering | 20,460 TOP |
| Engineering Account Manager | Engineering | 22,420 TOP |
| Engineering Chief Designer | Engineering | 20,760 TOP |
| Engineering Consultant | Engineering | 26,660 TOP |
| Engineering Key Account Manager | Engineering | 29,840 TOP |
| Engineering Lab Technician | Engineering | 20,300 TOP |
| Engineering Manager | Engineering | 28,720 TOP |
| Engineering Planning Manager | Engineering | 27,300 TOP |
| Engineering Production Manager | Engineering | 36,800 TOP |
| Engineering Project Analyst | Engineering | 25,220 TOP |
| Engineering Project Coordinator | Engineering | 24,280 TOP |
| Engineering Project Director | Engineering | 40,040 TOP |
| Engineering Project Leader | Engineering | 27,020 TOP |
| Engineering Project Manager | Engineering | 28,820 TOP |
| Engineering Research and Development Manager | Engineering | 32,620 TOP |
| Engineering Safety Coordinator | Engineering | 14,820 TOP |
| Engineering Sales Manager | Engineering | 29,040 TOP |
| Engineering Technician | Engineering | 13,100 TOP |
| Engineering Technologist | Engineering | 15,880 TOP |
| Environmental Engineer | Engineering | 17,740 TOP |
| Equipment Engineer | Engineering | 18,780 TOP |
| Equipment Engineering Manager | Engineering | 26,080 TOP |
| Estimator | Engineering | 15,380 TOP |
| Fabrication Specialist | Engineering | 12,580 TOP |
| Fabricator | Engineering | 8,560 TOP |
| Facade Engineer | Engineering | 20,120 TOP |
| Fiber Analyst | Engineering | 13,660 TOP |
| Field Engineer | Engineering | 21,020 TOP |
| Field Engineering Manager | Engineering | 35,520 TOP |
| Fire Engineer | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Fitter and Turner | Engineering | 5,200 TOP |
| Forestry Strategic Planner | Engineering | 22,420 TOP |
| Generation Engineer | Engineering | 19,480 TOP |
| Genetic Engineer | Engineering | 22,420 TOP |
| Geological Engineer | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Geotechnical Engineer | Engineering | 19,380 TOP |
| HSE Professional | Engineering | 19,360 TOP |
| HVAC Engineer | Engineering | 21,400 TOP |
| HVAC Supervisor | Engineering | 19,640 TOP |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Engineering | 9,740 TOP |
| Highway Engineer | Engineering | 19,020 TOP |
| Industrial Engineer | Engineering | 19,020 TOP |
| Industrial Engineering Technologist | Engineering | 20,120 TOP |
| Instrument Engineer | Engineering | 20,120 TOP |
| Instrument Technician | Engineering | 8,880 TOP |
| Instrumentation Designer | Engineering | 17,560 TOP |
| Instrumentation Engineer | Engineering | 18,900 TOP |
| Instrumentation Manager | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Instrumentation and Control Engineer | Engineering | 19,480 TOP |
| Irrigation Engineer | Engineering | 20,520 TOP |
| Licensed Aircraft Engineer | Engineering | 22,420 TOP |
| Locomotive Engineer | Engineering | 17,760 TOP |
| Maintenance Engineer | Engineering | 19,860 TOP |
| Maintenance Fitter | Engineering | 8,440 TOP |
| Maintenance Manager | Engineering | 20,500 TOP |
| Manufacturing Engineer | Engineering | 16,980 TOP |
| Marine Engineer | Engineering | 19,480 TOP |
| Materials Engineer | Engineering | 18,940 TOP |
| Materials Researcher | Engineering | 18,780 TOP |
| Materials Technician | Engineering | 14,660 TOP |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | Engineering | 19,060 TOP |
| Mechanical Designer | Engineering | 17,560 TOP |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | 20,000 TOP |
| Mechanical Engineering Manager | Engineering | 27,020 TOP |
| Mechanical Inspector | Engineering | 17,740 TOP |
| Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | Engineering | 21,020 TOP |
| Mechatronics Engineer | Engineering | 21,640 TOP |
| Mining Engineer | Engineering | 20,500 TOP |
| Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | Engineering | 21,020 TOP |
| Optical Engineer | Engineering | 17,740 TOP |
| PCB Assembler | Engineering | 5,960 TOP |
| Photonics Engineer | Engineering | 23,400 TOP |
| Photonics Technician | Engineering | 17,760 TOP |
| Pipeline Engineer | Engineering | 20,300 TOP |
| Piping Designer | Engineering | 10,080 TOP |
| Piping Engineer | Engineering | 15,920 TOP |
| Planning Engineer | Engineering | 21,380 TOP |
| Pressure Vessel Inspector | Engineering | 10,380 TOP |
| Principal Cost Engineer | Engineering | 19,020 TOP |
| Principal Engineer | Engineering | 18,900 TOP |
| Principal Support Engineer | Engineering | 19,860 TOP |
| Process Engineer | Engineering | 18,940 TOP |
| Process Operator | Engineering | 12,180 TOP |
| Product Development Engineer | Engineering | 21,380 TOP |
| Product Development Technician | Engineering | 12,000 TOP |
| Product Engineer | Engineering | 21,640 TOP |
| Product Safety Engineer | Engineering | 19,480 TOP |
| Production Engineer | Engineering | 21,020 TOP |
| Project Engineer | Engineering | 20,460 TOP |
| Proposal Manager | Engineering | 25,160 TOP |
| Purchasing Engineer | Engineering | 17,860 TOP |
| Quality Assurance Engineer | Engineering | 19,360 TOP |
| Rail Engineer | Engineering | 19,860 TOP |
| Regional Field Engineer | Engineering | 19,940 TOP |
| Robotics Engineer | Engineering | 20,460 TOP |
| Robotics Technician | Engineering | 16,400 TOP |
| Safety Engineer | Engineering | 20,500 TOP |
| Safety Inspector | Engineering | 14,140 TOP |
| Safety Manager | Engineering | 21,300 TOP |
| Safety Officer | Engineering | 9,140 TOP |
| Sales Engineer | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Scheduling Engineer | Engineering | 17,860 TOP |
| Service Engineer | Engineering | 20,520 TOP |
| Solar Engineer | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Staff Engineer | Engineering | 21,540 TOP |
| Static Equipment Engineer | Engineering | 18,900 TOP |
| Stationary Engineer | Engineering | 20,120 TOP |
| Stress Engineer | Engineering | 19,200 TOP |
| Structural Analysis Engineer | Engineering | 19,020 TOP |
| Structural Designer | Engineering | 18,780 TOP |
| Structural Engineer | Engineering | 19,480 TOP |
| Structural Technician | Engineering | 13,780 TOP |
| Supply Chain Specialist | Engineering | 21,540 TOP |
| Surveyor | Engineering | 15,580 TOP |
| Technical Affairs Officer | Engineering | 9,460 TOP |
| Technical Assistant | Engineering | 9,960 TOP |
| Technical Engineer | Engineering | 16,720 TOP |
| Technical Support Engineer | Engineering | 15,920 TOP |
| Tender Engineer | Engineering | 15,700 TOP |
| Test Development Engineer | Engineering | 20,300 TOP |
| Test Engineer | Engineering | 21,100 TOP |
| Transportation Engineer | Engineering | 18,280 TOP |
| Validation Engineer | Engineering | 18,780 TOP |
| Verification Engineer | Engineering | 19,860 TOP |
| Wastewater Engineer | Engineering | 17,740 TOP |
| Wind Energy Engineer | Engineering | 20,520 TOP |
| Wind Energy Operations Manager | Engineering | 25,440 TOP |
| Work Planner | Engineering | 13,960 TOP |
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