Instrument Technician
An instrument technician is a professional who is responsible for testing, repairing, and inspecting electronic manufacturing equipment to ensure proper operations of the machines.
Instrumentation technicians ensure the proper functioning of automated manufacturing equipment. They use a variety of instruments and devices to record and report data.
Instrument technicians collaborate with engineers to develop and produce equipment design and provide advice to process technicians about equipment operation. They remove defective equipment so that they can decontaminate and replace the damaged ones with new machines. They are also required by their employer to obtain certification in the field of instrumentation technology.
Job Overview
Salary
Workplace
How to Start
Job Overview
What does an Instrument Technician do?
An instrument technician is responsible for testing and repairing instrumentation systems in manufacturing equipment. This can involve inspecting instrumentation systems to find areas that might need repairs, testing manufacturing equipment to ensure it works properly and performing maintenance on existing equipment. An instrument technician might also contribute to the design and production of new equipment for measuring and recording data during production.
Instrument technicians also perform general maintenance on the equipment and design new measuring and recording equipment. On a typical day, an instrument technician will work with scientific and analytic computer software, calculators, voltage and current meters, and electronic probes to diagnose faults in circuitry.
Mechanical Tests
Instrument technicians Instrument technicians maintain, test, inspect, and calibrate equipment to ensure it is in good working order.
Equipment Knowledge
Instrument technicians reassemble instruments and replace instruments in system using hand tools. They may also Make design modification or devise and design the equipment parts.
Quality Assurance
These technicians actively develop improvements in standard practices to ensure quality and efficiency.
Problem Solving Skills
These technicians interact with other departments and personnel to resolve any related issues. They also collaborate with department operators to understand operational issues as well as process and equipment opportunities.
Salary
How much does an Instrument Technician make?
The average Instrument Technician salary in the United States is $71,141, but the salary range typically falls between $58,767 and $83,855. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
These are 2025 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.
Workplace
What does the workplace for an Instrument Technician look like?
Instrumentation technicians work in chemical plants, petroleum refineries, canneries, and food processing plants as well as other businesses that must control and monitor their air and water pollution. These industries require extremely precise measuring and monitoring equipment to regulate flow and pressure rates, keep track of production, manage power use, and ensure safety.
Typical Industries for Instrument Technicians:
- Architectural, engineering, and related firms
- Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing companies
- Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
- Federal government
How to Start
How to become an Instrument Technician?
A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is required to work as an instrumentation technician, but post-secondary coursework is helpful in the field. Instrumentation technicians need a strong background in mathematics, computer software, and mechanical skills. Many employers strongly prefer candidates with an associate’s degree in robotics or instrumentation.
Typical Qualifications:
- Hands-on experience with calibration, assemblies, and gages.
- Basic understanding of programmable logic.
- Strong command of English language and good communication skills.
- Strong leadership and problem solving abilities.
