How To Become A Calibration Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a calibration technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

These people are tasked with conducting routine testing, inspection, maintenance, and repairs of manufacturing equipment. Their job is to make sure that the measurements taken with this equipment are accurate.

As part of their routine inspection, they make sure other workers comply with good calibration practices. In another phase, they are also responsible for creating calibration procedures, support validation activities, and assist in carrying out investigations that might arise as a result of the wrong calibration procedure.

Some of the skills needed to perfect in this profession include the ability to measure, analytical skills, the ability to accurately and quickly run calibrations, monitoring skills, and repairing skills. This job requires some academic qualifications: a diploma from a technological school or an associate degree in engineering, calibration technology, metrology, or a related field. The salary for this position depends on the experience, the size of the organization, and the location. In the United States, they are typically paid $55,998 per year.

ScoreCalibration TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.7

Avg. Salary $46,908

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

2.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 8.05%

Black or African American 6.26%

Hispanic or Latino 10.43%

Unknown 4.32%

White 70.79%

Gender

female 12.33%

male 87.67%

Age - 52

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 - 52

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a calibration technician

Explore calibration technician education requirements

Most common calibration technician degrees

Associate

48.2 %

Bachelor's

30.2 %

High School Diploma

10.6 %

Start to develop specific calibration technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Metrology	10.36%
Customer Service	9.56%
Calibration Procedures	6.48%
Troubleshoot	5.80%
Hand Tools	4.30%

Complete relevant calibration technician training and internships

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

Gain additional calibration technician certifications

Calibration 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 calibration technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for calibration technicians include Certified Calibration Technician (CCT) and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).

More About Certifications

Research calibration technician duties and responsibilities

Comply with good laboratory practices FDA, QSR, ISO, safety and environmental regulations.
Calibrate and repair general-purpose and RF test, measurement, & diagnostic equipment (TMDE) and microwave passive standards.
Calibrate basic mechanical and electrical measurement instruments, such as calipers, micrometers and voltage-current-resistance meters.
Perform calibration and maintenance of measuring equipment including micrometers, calipers and drop indicators among others.

Prepare your calibration technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your calibration 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 calibration 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 calibration technician resume templates

Build a professional calibration 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 calibration technician resume.