Calibration technologists and technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Mean (average) | $74,170 | $35.66 |
| 90th percentile | $106,550 | $51.23 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Calibration technologists and technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Data unavailable | 30 | 1 | ||
| Arizona | $69,230 | $48,260 | $102,430 | 400 | 1.15 |
| Arkansas | Data unavailable | 230 | 1.65 | ||
| California | $79,010 | $52,670 | $117,040 | 1,250 | 0.64 |
| Colorado | $63,660 | $48,860 | $103,070 | 260 | 0.84 |
| Connecticut | $63,420 | $53,680 | $93,320 | 120 | 0.66 |
| Florida | $59,770 | $41,250 | $95,860 | 480 | 0.45 |
| Georgia | $66,730 | $49,570 | $100,260 | 140 | 0.26 |
| Illinois | $59,590 | $46,160 | $112,650 | ||
| Indiana | $61,930 | $37,170 | $75,700 | 810 | 2.38 |
| Iowa | $61,490 | $58,230 | $99,320 | 110 | 0.64 |
| Kansas | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.35 | ||
| Kentucky | $55,650 | $44,880 | $71,310 | 90 | 0.43 |
| Louisiana | $80,670 | $59,430 | $102,830 | 480 | 2.35 |
| Maryland | $60,860 | $51,340 | $130,290 | 200 | 0.68 |
| Massachusetts | $75,500 | $47,840 | $96,400 | 380 | 0.98 |
| Michigan | $70,140 | $49,090 | $92,600 | 400 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $60,360 | $49,650 | $99,180 | 400 | 1.26 |
| Missouri | $61,510 | $47,320 | $78,540 | 280 | 0.9 |
| Nebraska | $63,530 | $55,490 | $80,030 | 130 | 1.17 |
| Nevada | $64,530 | $38,640 | $96,200 | 110 | 0.67 |
| New Hampshire | $66,650 | $43,470 | $104,170 | 280 | 3.83 |
| New Jersey | $77,040 | $57,700 | $114,140 | 390 | 0.87 |
| New Mexico | $65,650 | $38,420 | $118,500 | 190 | 2 |
| New York | $61,270 | $44,990 | $93,700 | 800 | 0.77 |
| North Carolina | $61,000 | $49,720 | $99,160 | 410 | 0.79 |
| Ohio | $65,520 | $49,120 | $101,530 | 740 | 1.26 |
| Oklahoma | $80,920 | $43,460 | $98,890 | 150 | 0.81 |
| Oregon | $68,830 | $54,290 | $102,540 | 170 | 0.79 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,700 | $45,580 | $97,860 | 370 | 0.58 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,460 | $29,740 | $56,240 | 630 | 6.35 |
| Rhode Island | $64,390 | $58,390 | $92,990 | 50 | 1.01 |
| South Carolina | $66,910 | $49,920 | $96,480 | 70 | 0.27 |
| Tennessee | $71,660 | $57,810 | $94,690 | 130 | 0.36 |
| Texas | $74,100 | $46,170 | $108,120 | 5,020 | 3.36 |
| Utah | $67,300 | $47,000 | $114,940 | 80 | 0.45 |
| Vermont | $77,950 | $55,460 | $99,270 | 30 | 1.07 |
| Virginia | $72,730 | $50,110 | $110,620 | 330 | 0.75 |
| Washington | $93,880 | $61,060 | $119,910 | 270 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $61,060 | $48,390 | $89,080 | 320 | 1.03 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for calibration technologists and technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for calibration technologists and technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0303
- Biomedical Technology/Technician CIP 15.0401
- Instrumentation Technology/Technician CIP 15.0404
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Maintain or repair measurement devices or equipment used for calibration testing.
- Verify part dimensions or clearances using precision measuring instruments to ensure conformance to specifications.
- Conduct calibration tests to determine performance or reliability of mechanical, structural, or electromechanical equipment.
- Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders.
- Visually inspect equipment to detect surface defects.
- Calibrate devices by comparing measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, or other environmental conditions to known standards.
- Write and submit reports about the results of calibration tests.
- Disassemble and reassemble equipment for inspection.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (in demand)
- MathWorks Simulink (in demand)
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Minitab
- National Instruments LabVIEW
Common job titles: Calibration Specialist, Calibration Technician (Calibration Tech), Gauge Specialist, Instrument and Control Technician (I and C Tech), Instrument Control Technician (Instrument Control Tech), Quality Technician (Quality Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do calibration technologists and technicians make?
The national median annual wage for calibration technologists and technicians was $67,820 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $46,680 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $106,550. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do calibration technologists and technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is calibration technologists and technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of calibration technologists and technicians to change +4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay calibration technologists and technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($93,880), Oklahoma ($80,920), Louisiana ($80,670). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.