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

What is a failure analysis technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

John Irwin EdD

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a failure analysis technician. For example, did you know that they make an average of $24.61 an hour? That's $51,189 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 2,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a failure analysis technician?

John Irwin EdD

Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Michigan Technological University

Engineering technology graduates are masters of technology, gaining a broad and deep understanding of the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain an engineering design. They act as technological integrators, bridging the gap between the skilled trades and engineering fundamentals. This is a great career path for those who enjoy engineering concepts but would rather spend time working with their hands solving specific technical issues than tackling broader, more complex design challenges.

ScoreFailure Analysis TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,189

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.4

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 11.61%

Black or African American 8.45%

Hispanic or Latino 15.93%

Unknown 4.84%

White 58.49%

Gender

female 15.70%

male 84.30%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a failure analysis technician

Explore failure analysis technician education requirements

Most common failure analysis technician degrees

Associate

59.6 %

Bachelor's

29.5 %

High School Diploma

4.6 %

Start to develop specific failure analysis technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Troubleshoot	9.58%
Test Equipment	8.45%
Failure Analysis	8.18%
Sample Preparation	4.73%
Assembly Line	4.62%

Complete relevant failure analysis technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New failure analysis 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 failure analysis technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real failure analysis technician resumes.

Research failure analysis technician duties and responsibilities

Achieve multiple certifications per FDA and NRC guidelines for various internal processes critical to quality and safety.
Conduct testing of COA to the inks by the use of GC/MS, IC, HPLC, ICP/MS and UV spectroscopy.
Perform hands-on electronic circuit assembly, fabrication, wiring, prototyping, testing, debugging and repair down to component level.
Perform system diagnostic testing, PCB debugging down to failure component or marginal components up to ASIC/IC level, SI analysis.

Prepare your failure analysis technician resume

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

Build a professional failure analysis 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 failure analysis technician resume.