Instrumentation and Control Technician
Impact: Operational efficiency, Safety, Quality control
Install, maintain, and repair complex control systems and instrumentation used in industrial processes.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- 10-20% local
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $78,000
- Entry-level
- $50,000 - $65,000
- Senior
- $95,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 5% (average)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate to 60-90% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $15,000 - $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- PLC Programming
- SCADA Systems
- Industrial Automation
- Calibration
- Electrical Troubleshooting
- Process Control
- Sensor Technology
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to Detail
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Associate's Degree
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Technician
- Senior Technician
- Lead Technician
- Supervisor
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 10% to low risk due to hands-on maintenance and complex troubleshooting
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.6/10
- Meaning
- 3.4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.2/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate