What is a product technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

John Irwin EdD

A product technician tests and analyzes products to ensure proper function and quality. They work to troubleshoot issues and make necessary adjustments. Product technicians work in industries including manufacturing, electronics, and software development. They may also assist with product design and development providing feedback to engineers and designers. Product technicians use communication skills to effectively report technical information to team members and clients. A product technician must be detail-oriented and independent with knowledge of technical concepts.

What general advice would you give to a Product Technician?

John Irwin EdD

Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University

Engineering technology graduates are masters of technology, gaining a broad and deep understanding of the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain an engineering design. They act as technological integrators, bridging the gap between the skilled trades and engineering fundamentals. This is a great career path for those who enjoy engineering concepts but would rather spend time working with their hands solving specific technical issues than tackling broader, more complex design challenges.

ScoreProduct TechnicianUS Average

Salary

5.2

Avg. Salary $67,026

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.3

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 7.49%

Black or African American 9.42%

Hispanic or Latino 16.61%

Unknown 4.87%

White 60.92%

Gender

female 14.15%

male 85.85%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress Level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.2

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.5

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Product Technician?

Pros

Possibility of gaining valuable technical skills and knowledge
Potential for career advancement within the company
Often offers a stable and consistent work schedule
Interact with various departments in the company (e.g. engineering, sales, marketing)
Can be a fulfilling and rewarding career path

Cons

May involve long hours or irregular schedules during product launches
Can be physically demanding, requiring standing or lifting for extended periods of time
May require working with hazardous materials or chemicals
May involve repetitive tasks or monotonous work at times
Limited opportunities for creativity or autonomy in decision-making

Key steps to become a product technician

Explore product technician education requirements

Most common product technician degrees

High School Diploma

32.9 %

Bachelor's

29.3 %

Associate

21.5 %

Start to develop specific product technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	24.21%
Troubleshoot	9.93%
Product Support	9.24%
Excellent Interpersonal	7.28%
Windows	6.61%

Complete relevant product technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New product 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 a product technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real product technician resumes.

Gain additional product technician certifications

Product technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific product technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for product technicians include Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

More About Certifications

Research product technician duties and responsibilities

Manage paperwork associate with HVAC procedures.
Perform internal auditor training regarding FDA 21 CFR 820 and ISO 13485 guidelines.
Operate CNC machines for BMW X3/X5 front and rear axle.
Load various operation systems - unix, linux, windows.

Prepare your product technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your product 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 a product 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 Product Technician Resume templates

Build a professional Product 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 Product Technician resume.

Apply for product technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a product 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

How do product technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Product Technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Cons

Nothing