How much does an instrument technician make?
a year · about $33 an hour
A typical instrument technician in the United States makes $68,990 a year, about $33 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a factory or power plant, an instrument technician cleans, adjusts, and tests gauges to see if their readings are right. If a reading is out of range, they trace the fault and repair or replace the bad part; some work irregular shifts.
Did you know? At a power plant, an instrument technician may look after gauges tracking a turbine generator’s pressure, fuel, and efficiency—small readings help monitor a giant machine.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $40,140 and $102,990How do you become one?
U.S. technicians often start after high school (about 18), then take courses in math, science, or electronics. Employers add about two years of hands-on training; some later earn ISA’s CCST by meeting its rules and passing an exam.
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay differs with experience, useful skills or certificates, the employer’s industry, and location. The instruments and tasks a person specializes in can matter too; some factory and hospital jobs also have irregular shifts.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Alaska ($113,670), lowest in Pennsylvania ($33,870).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,140 | $68,990 | $102,990 | about 9,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $113,670 | about 80 |
| Washington | $98,340 | about 340 |
| Hawaii | $88,580 | about 180 |
| Delaware | $82,200 | about 90 |
| Louisiana | $82,140 | about 80 |
Official definition: All precision instrument and equipment repairers not listed separately.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2001/Summer/art05.pdf
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9069.00
- www.isa.org/certification/ccst
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes499069.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY