How To Become An Instrument And Electrical Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an instrument and electrical technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

An instrument and electrical technician is an individual who specializes in maintaining, repairing, and installing electrical and instrumentation systems. They work in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, energy production, and transportation. Instrument and electrical technicians are responsible for troubleshooting issues with electrical and instrumentation systems, ensuring that they are functioning properly and safely. Effective communication skills are also important, as instrument and electrical technicians often work as part of a team.

ScoreInstrument And Electrical TechnicianUS Average

Salary

5.3

Avg. Salary $67,865

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.9

Growth Rate -1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 3.88%

Black or African American 5.54%

Hispanic or Latino 13.85%

Unknown 7.20%

White 68.98%

Gender

female 2.67%

male 97.33%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress Level

5.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.6

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Instrument And Electrical Technician?

Pros

Good job security and high demand in various industries
Competitive salary and benefits package
Ability to troubleshoot and solve complex problems
Potential for flexible scheduling and remote work options
Satisfaction of contributing to society through infrastructure development

Cons

Exposure to hazardous materials and dangerous environments
Long hours and potential for overtime work
High-stress situations when equipment fails or safety is compromised
Requires constant learning and staying up-to-date with new technology
Requires attention to detail, which can be mentally exhausting

Newest jobs for Instrument And Electrical Technician in Columbus, OH

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Key steps to become an instrument and electrical technician

Explore instrument and electrical technician education requirements

Most common instrument and electrical technician degrees

Associate

56.5 %

Bachelor's

18.6 %

High School Diploma

9.1 %

Start to develop specific instrument and electrical technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Electrical Equipment	6.56%
Control Systems	6.55%
Transmitters	5.51%
Ladders	5.49%
Preventative Maintenance	5.21%

Complete relevant instrument and electrical technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New instrument and electrical technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an instrument and electrical technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real instrument and electrical technician resumes.

Research instrument and electrical technician duties and responsibilities

Supervise and manage several environmental ECAS annual, monthly and weekly reports in cooperation with regional CEMS manager for federal compliance.
Maintain transmitters, control valves, analyzers, and microprocessor control system to provide continuous operation of the process unit.
Install and maintain SCADA system.
Provide end-user training/coaching on SCADA controllers, and software issues.

Prepare your instrument and electrical technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your instrument and electrical technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an instrument and electrical technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Instrument And Electrical Technician Resume templates

Build a professional Instrument And Electrical Technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Instrument And Electrical Technician resume.

Apply for instrument and electrical technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an instrument and electrical technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average instrument and electrical technician salary

The average Instrument And Electrical Technician salary in the United States is $67,865 per year or $33 per hour. Instrument and electrical technician salaries range between $52,000 and $87,000 per year.

Average Instrument And Electrical Technician Salary

$67,865 Yearly

$32.63 hourly

How do instrument and electrical technicians rate their job?