Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of service technicians that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of service technicians:
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Service Technician Lead is the highest-paid type of service technician with an average salary of $104,707 and an average hourly rate of $50.34.
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The second highest-paying type of service technician is master technician, with an average salary of $97,027.
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The average service technician salary is $40,379 per year, and the average hourly pay is $19.41.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a service technician, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of service technicians are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of service technicians:
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Service Technician Lead
Average Salary: $104,707
Service technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for installing and maintaining equipment used in the operations of an organization. These technicians are required to provide preventive maintenance on equipment and train maintenance personnel on the proper procedures to follow. They must assess customer complaints and negotiate appropriate compensation base on the severity of the situation. Service technicians must also lead a team of technicians in inspection and repair based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
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Master Technician
Average Salary: $97,027
A Master Technician diagnoses and repairs vehicles accurately within a reasonable time frame and quality. Their primary duties include the maintenance of vehicles to ensure proper performance, repairing of individual parts, and replacement of entire systems.
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Field Service Technician
Average Salary: $54,339
Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company’s physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients’ equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients’ offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.
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Refrigeration Technician
Average Salary: $50,701
A refrigeration technician is responsible for managing refrigeration and cooling systems for private households and commercial establishments. Refrigeration technicians install refrigeration components, requiring them to have an excellent analysis of blueprints and schematics. They inspect the system components and inform the household owners and management for preventive maintenance and troubleshooting for minor defects and inconsistencies, as well as calculating costs and materials for repairs. A refrigeration technician must be well-equipped with mechanical knowledge to identify failures and upgrade units as necessary.
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Service Mechanic
Average Salary: $47,240
A service mechanic, or often known as a service technician, is a professional who inspects, maintains, and repairs cars and light trucks. Service mechanics must identify the vehicle’s problems by using computerized diagnostic equipment and test parts and systems to ensure that they work properly. They must perform basic vehicular care and maintenance such as changing oil, checking fluid levels, and rotating tires. Service mechanics should also explain automotive problems to customers and perform repairs according to the manufacturer ad customer specifications.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various service technician that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Service Technicians
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for service technicians.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Service Technician Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid service technician job?
The highest-paid service technician job is a service technician lead. Service Technician Leads earn an average salary of $104,707, which is $ 50.34 hourly.
Service technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for installing and maintaining equipment used in the operations of an organization. These technicians are required to provide preventive maintenance on equipment and train maintenance personnel on the proper procedures to follow. They must assess customer complaints and negotiate appropriate compensation base on the severity of the situation. Service technicians must also lead a team of technicians in inspection and repair based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
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What is a good salary for a service technician?
A good salary for a service technician is $40,379 or more. The average service technician salary is $40,379, so those making at least $40,379 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average service technician salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a service technician, the average entry level salary is $38,509, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $40,379 average, as this includes all service technicians of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Service Technician jobs pay well?
No, service technician jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some service technician jobs pay better than others, but the average service technician salary of $40,379 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many service technician jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of service technicians earning $43,568 a year on average.
Service Technicians’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a service technician. Do your research on the going rate for a service technician in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do service technicians get paid the most?
Service Technicians get paid the most in Connecticut. In Connecticut, service technicians earn an average annual salary of $53,404 and an average hourly wage of $25.68.
Following CT, the states with the highest-paid service technicians are Arizona, Alaska, and Delaware, with average annual salaries of $46,934, $53,958, and $45,521 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid service technician salaries are:
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Richmond, CA – $50,022
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Phoenix, AZ – $46,959
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Las Vegas, NV – $46,252
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
