Do you need a degree to be a field engineer?

No, you do not need a degree to become a field engineer. However, if you do not have a traditional associate's or bachelor's degree, you will need additional experience to make up for the requirements presented by some employers. Industry standards should always be considered a priority regardless of education or experience path.

How long does it take to become a field engineer?

It takes about six years to become a field engineer. Most field engineers will use the traditional route when obtaining their experience and education: a four-year bachelor's degree and two years of additional experience. However, some have gotten their associate's degree with four to six years of additional experience.

What are field service engineer responsibilities?

Field service engineers are responsible for maintaining and repairing equipment, installing new machinery, and managing their team. Field service engineers may also be responsible for maintaining a record log of all projects and equipment while maintaining rapport with established customers or building relationships with new ones.

What is a field engineer's salary?

A field engineer's salary is between $58,900 to $71,600 per year. Some field engineers may make more based on the industry chosen, the location of their employer, and employer-specific bonuses.

What is a field engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Fred Garber Ph.D.

A field engineer provides on-site technical support for various industries such as telecommunications, construction, and manufacturing. They install, test, maintain, and repair equipment and machinery. Field engineers work with clients to understand their needs and provide solutions. They may also train clients on how to use equipment effectively. Field engineers often work in remote or challenging environments and adapt to different situations. Their job requires strong communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and technical expertise.

What general advice would you give to a field engineer?

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.

ScoreField EngineerUS Average

Salary

5.6

Avg. Salary $71,874

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 14.33%

Black or African American 4.91%

Hispanic or Latino 11.47%

Unknown 4.72%

White 64.39%

Gender

female 7.29%

male 92.71%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a field engineer?

Pros

High earning potential
Variety of tasks and projects
Exposure to different industries and sectors
Opportunity for career advancement
Flexibility in scheduling and work hours

Cons

Long hours and unpredictable schedules
Exposure to hazardous materials and environments
Physical demands of the job
Limited access to training or support resources in remote locations
Limited opportunities for collaboration or teamwork with colleagues

Key steps to become a field engineer

Explore field engineer education requirements

Most common field engineer degrees

Bachelor's

66.7 %

Associate

19.0 %

Master's

6.8 %

Start to develop specific field engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	8.62%
Customer Satisfaction	7.80%
Project Management	5.86%
Azure	5.60%
Technical Support	5.25%

Complete relevant field engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New field engineers 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 field engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real field engineer resumes.

Research field engineer duties and responsibilities

Promote from original position as a staff engineer managing a variety of geotechnical engineering activities to a field engineer inspector position.
Assign IP addresses to the correct users.
Install VMware servers and configure to customer needs.
Recommend improvements to HSE tools, processes, and policies.

Prepare your field engineer resume

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

Choose from 10+ customizable field engineer resume templates

Build a professional field engineer 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 field engineer resume.