How To Become An Electrical & Instrumentation Designer: What It Is and Career Path

What is an electrical & instrumentation designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Fred Garber Ph.D.

Electrical and instrumentation designers are responsible for creating and designing unique instruments. They are involved in developing various kinds of instruments for measuring, monitoring, and collecting data. These instrumentation designers develop instruments for research or use in a variety of fields. They also develop instruments, such as drawing, creating prototypes, testing, troubleshooting, and installing.

Electrical and instrumentation designers earn an average salary of $96,000 annually or $26 per hour. They work for various industries, including oil refineries, marine science, water management, heavy machinery, nuclear plants, etc. They may work with clients to develop requested products and are familiar with engineering principles, measurement methods, statistical analysis, mathematics, and physics.

Electrical and instrumentation designers typically hold a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. They are expected to have some years of experience as an instrumentation designer or in a similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with familiarity with design software, including AutoCAD and professional engineer licensure.

What general advice would you give to an electrical & instrumentation designer?

Fred Garber Ph.D.

Professor, Electrical Engineering, Wright State University

I think the primary question, in the minds of those who are yet to graduate or are still searching, is in regard to the strength of the technical job market, especially the local job market. But you are in a position to definitively answer that question.

In you article, I would ask that you address the following:
Number of employers looking to fill and number of job offerings in the region (by engineering and computer science major) compared to last year and to the previous five years.

Any noticeable differences in job descriptions Zippia is receiving relative to work environment, benefits, starting salaries, etc.

Many of our soon-to-graduate students would be very interested in these quantitative and qualitative comparisons. Additionally, vast numbers of potential students would benefit from such information to guide their career choices.

ScoreElectrical & Instrumentation DesignerUS Average

Salary

6.3

Avg. Salary $81,188

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 14.30%

Black or African American 4.93%

Hispanic or Latino 11.55%

Unknown 4.73%

White 64.31%

Gender

female 14.81%

male 85.19%

Age - 44

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 - 44

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an electrical & instrumentation designer

Explore electrical & instrumentation designer education requirements

Most common electrical & instrumentation designer degrees

Associate

52.7 %

Bachelor's

30.1 %

High School Diploma

6.2 %

Start to develop specific electrical & instrumentation designer skills

Skills	Percentages
PLC	8.43%
Instrumentation Design	7.34%
Control Systems	5.91%
I/O	4.77%
Electrical Design	4.27%

Complete relevant electrical & instrumentation designer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New electrical & instrumentation designers 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 an electrical & instrumentation designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real electrical & instrumentation designer resumes.

Research electrical & instrumentation designer duties and responsibilities

Manage database for PDF drawings and other electronic files.
Modify chemical process areas with new control installations, utilizing various DCS's, and PLC's on these projects.
Work in PDMS creating instruments, cable tray routing, locating junction boxes, remote I/O cabinets, and lighting.
Work include modification of existing instrument panels to accept PLC & DCS racks and wiring; update pneumatic instrumentation to electronics.

Prepare your electrical & instrumentation designer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your electrical & instrumentation designer 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 an electrical & instrumentation designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable electrical & instrumentation designer resume templates

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