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 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 technicians:
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Product Technician is the highest-paid type of technician with an average salary of $67,026 and an average hourly rate of $32.22.
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The second highest-paying type of technician is engineering technician, with an average salary of $60,273.
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The average technician salary is $38,045 per year, and the average hourly pay is $18.29.
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 technician, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of technicians are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of technicians:
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Product Technician
Average Salary: $67,026
Product technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for evaluating manufactured goods to ensure quality and functionality before they are marketed to the general public. These technicians are required to perform equipment setup and adjustments while conducting minor preventative maintenance tasks to test for safety and productivity before they are put into production. By using their technical knowledge, they must identify problems such as mechanical issues and safety issues while providing potential solutions to the issues. Product technicians must also ensure that finished products conform to specifications and codes.
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Engineering Technician
Average Salary: $60,273
An Engineering Technician’s duties vary according to the industry or company, whether mechanical, industrial, civil, agricultural, or more. However, most of the time, the responsibilities often revolve around resolving technical issues, working with and assisting Engineers in building, assembling, designing, gathering and testing data, and conducting more manual activities. Furthermore, Engineering Technicians can specialize and work in various fields after a certain training period, closely mentored or monitored by an engineer or someone with extensive expertise.
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Electrical Technician
Average Salary: $55,215
An electrical technician is responsible for managing the electrical systems of an establishment, ensuring the safety of the network and cables to support daily operations. Electrical technicians analyze schematics and specifications to construct electrical systems, run diagnostic tests, and perform repairs for any defects and inconsistencies. They assemble electrical equipment, replace malfunctioning components, upgrading systems, and advising management of high-quality electrical supplies. An electrical technician must have excellent knowledge of the electrical and mechanical industry, especially with supervising electricians on their duties, as well as responding to the clients’ inquiries and concerns.
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Projection Technician
Average Salary: $49,505
Projection Technicians are responsible for managing the operations of a projection booth. Their duties include managing film projectors, assisting in film content programming and formatting, oversee video recordings, and monitor screen image as well as audio levels. They ensure proper soundtrack and film print storage, conduct preventive maintenance for projectors, and undertake theatre checks daily. Projection Technicians also document print condition logs and provide technical assistance for building equipment.
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Information Technology Technician
Average Salary: $49,031
An information technology technician, also known as an IT technician, is responsible for ensuring that all computer systems in a company or organization are running smoothly and efficiently. Their duties primarily revolve around installing and maintaining systems, including software and hardware, and resolving any issues. They also provide technical support such as troubleshooting, navigation, and even system upgrades. Furthermore, an information technology technician can choose whether to work for a company or independently.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various technician that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of 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 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 Technician Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid technician job?
The highest-paid technician job is a product technician. Product Technicians earn an average salary of $67,026, which is $ 32.22 hourly.
Product technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for evaluating manufactured goods to ensure quality and functionality before they are marketed to the general public. These technicians are required to perform equipment setup and adjustments while conducting minor preventative maintenance tasks to test for safety and productivity before they are put into production. By using their technical knowledge, they must identify problems such as mechanical issues and safety issues while providing potential solutions to the issues. Product technicians must also ensure that finished products conform to specifications and codes.
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What is a good salary for a technician?
A good salary for a technician is $38,045 or more. The average technician salary is $38,045, so those making at least $38,045 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average 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 technician, the average entry level salary is $22,292, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $38,045 average, as this includes all technicians of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Technician jobs pay well?
No, technician jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some technician jobs pay better than others, but the average technician salary of $38,045 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many technician jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of technicians earning $49,735 a year on average.
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 technician. Do your research on the going rate for a 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 technicians get paid the most?
Technicians get paid the most in Hawaii. In Hawaii, technicians earn an average annual salary of $56,045 and an average hourly wage of $26.94.
Following HI, the states with the highest-paid technicians are New Jersey, California, and Connecticut, with average annual salaries of $48,555, $52,037, and $46,743 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid technician salaries are:
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San Jose, CA – $53,121
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Baltimore, MD – $43,567
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New York, NY – $42,255
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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.
