Post job

Commissioning technician vs calibration technician

The differences between commissioning technicians and calibration technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a commissioning technician and a calibration technician. Additionally, a commissioning technician has an average salary of $72,504, which is higher than the $46,908 average annual salary of a calibration technician.

The top three skills for a commissioning technician include start-up, HVAC and cooling towers. The most important skills for a calibration technician are metrology, customer service, and calibration procedures.

Commissioning technician vs calibration technician overview

Commissioning TechnicianCalibration Technician
Yearly salary$72,504$46,908
Hourly rate$34.86$22.55
Growth rate--
Number of jobs49,41948,741
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 37%Associate Degree, 48%
Average age5050
Years of experience1212

What does a commissioning technician do?

A commissioning technician will work closely with commissioning engineers in supervising the final phase of a project following the installation and testing of systems. You will be responsible for inspecting and correcting the functioning of the facilities, equipment, and plants and perform repairs and maintenance as necessary. As a commissioning technician, it is also your responsibility to create and conduct test procedures, and perform routine equipment maintenance. You will also be responsible for investigating and diagnosing problems and find solutions to address them.

What does a calibration technician do?

The calibration technician's primary role in manufacturing industries is to make sure that measurements taken with the use of equipment are accurate. They are responsible for the regular monitoring and maintenance of equipment and instruments to ensure that their readings and output match the desired results. Their duties include testing, maintenance, routine inspection, as well as the repair of instruments and manufacturing equipment. Important skills required for the job include keen attention to detail, analytical skills, and coordination for conducting tests with various equipment.

Commissioning technician vs calibration technician salary

Commissioning technicians and calibration technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Commissioning TechnicianCalibration Technician
Average salary$72,504$46,908
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $105,000Between $35,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City-Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Boehringer Ingelheim
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between commissioning technician and calibration technician education

There are a few differences between a commissioning technician and a calibration technician in terms of educational background:

Commissioning TechnicianCalibration Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 37%Associate Degree, 48%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityNortheastern University

Commissioning technician vs calibration technician demographics

Here are the differences between commissioning technicians' and calibration technicians' demographics:

Commissioning TechnicianCalibration Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 95.1% Female, 4.9%Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between commissioning technician and calibration technician duties and responsibilities

Commissioning technician example responsibilities.

  • Train and develop employees to accomplish work assignments with focus on GMP compliance and best safety practices.
  • Lead a team of 10 engineers to develop an infrare telescope that are launched on the NASA high-altitude balloonproject BRRISON/BOPPS.
  • Work on valves, switches, and transmitters.
  • Loop check field devices to HMI with clients.
  • Stroke shutdown and control valves, check vibration to compressor HMI.
  • Adhere to all cGMP requirements as defined by plant principles and FDA guidelines.
  • Show more

Calibration technician example 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.
  • Maintain standards in accordance with cGMP, USP, JP and ISO.
  • Install MCC's, VFD's, motors, and Allen Bradley PLC's.
  • Show more

Commissioning technician vs calibration technician skills

Common commissioning technician skills
  • Start-Up, 17%
  • HVAC, 14%
  • Cooling Towers, 7%
  • Control Systems, 7%
  • Leed, 6%
  • PLC, 5%
Common calibration technician skills
  • Metrology, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Calibration Procedures, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 4%
  • Equipment Calibration, 4%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs