Post job

Field installation engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a field installation engineer. Field installation engineers usually study electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or computer science. 42% of field installation engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 35% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 246 real field installation engineer resumes to see exactly what field installation engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for field installation engineers are the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

There are also many online field installation engineer courses to help get the education required to be a field installation engineer.

What education do you need to become a field installation engineer?

What degree do you need to be a field installation engineer?

The most common degree for field installation engineers is bachelor's degree, with 42% of field installation engineers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 35% and associate degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 42%
  • Associate, 35%
  • High School Diploma, 10%
  • Master's, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a field installation engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become a field installation engineer. 26% of field installation engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for a field installation engineer include electrical engineering technology and computer science.

Most common colleges for field installation engineers

Field installation engineers often get their degrees at New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of South Florida, and Pennsylvania State University. Here are the most common colleges for field installation engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Field installation engineer common collegePercentages
New Jersey Institute of Technology8.70%
University of South Florida8.70%
Pennsylvania State University8.70%
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey4.35%
Harvard University4.35%

Best majors for field installation engineers

Best colleges for field installation engineers

The best colleges for field installation engineers are Northwestern University, California Institute of Technology, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A field installation engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for field installation engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become field installation engineers.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

2. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

7. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

8. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

9. Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,646

Enrollment

5,736

10. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,465

Enrollment

6,483

20 best online courses for field installation engineers

Advertising disclosure

1. Network Installation Fundamentals

coursera

This online course, Network Installation Fundamentals, is your steppingstone to a rewarding career in network technology. By the end of this course, you will be able to understand basic network client management, explain the role of network connection media, and describe the role of virtualization in enterprise networking. Perfect for beginners with no experience, this course provides a comprehensive introduction to network installation, one of the most in-demand skills in the networking field...

2. Installing Anthos Service Mesh on Google Kubernetes Engine

coursera

In this lab you will install the Anthos Service Mesh, and use it with the Bookinfo microservices application, all on a GKE cluster...

3. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking

udemy
4.1
(314)

For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...

4. Introduction To Fiber Optic Cabling

udemy
4.3
(2,759)

Welcome! This course is designed to give you a good understand of fiber optics and fiber data transmission...

5. IT network cabling: The complete fiber optics course

udemy
4.5
(840)

Demystifying fiber optics, the fastest growing ICT network infrastructure sector one lesson at a time!...

6. TCP/IP Training Video A Definitive & Easy To Follow Course

udemy
4.3
(906)

Essential TCP/IP Training Course For Professionals Who Manages Servers, Networks Or Any Other Network Connected Device...

7. Microsoft 70-740 - Install, Storage & Compute w/ Server 2016

udemy
4.5
(1,003)

Installation Storage & Compute with Windows Server 2016 IT certification course...

8. Complete Field Instrumentation Engineering Course

udemy
4.3
(259)

Flow, Level, Temperature and Pressure Instrument - Selection, Sizing, Calculation and Detail Engineering...

9. Mastering Modbus TCP/IP Network Communication

udemy
4.8
(1,422)

Learn how to design, build and troubleshoot Modbus TCP/IP client-server networks...

10. Introduction To Telecom Networks: Fixed/Wireless Networks

udemy
4.4
(364)

PSTN, Voice Over IP Systems (Softswitch, IMS), Internet, Mobile/cellular systems, Optical Fiber Systems (OFAN, DWDM)...

11. Installing Wordpress - Installation, Registrars & Hosting

udemy
4.7
(263)

Wordpress installation using separate domain registrar and web host, plus why it is essential to set it up that way...

12. Build your own GPS tracking system-Raspberry Pi Zero W 2023

udemy
4.5
(812)

Installation, setup & configuration, Static IP, GPS Testing, Remote GUI, location tracking on Google Map, Io T & more...

13. Basic Computer Course - Windows 7/10 - IT & Desktop Support

udemy
4.7
(1,213)

Basic computer course with troubleshooting skills -computer hardware and computer networking, for IT support technicians...

14. Asterisk Made Easy: Learn to Install Asterisk and Linux

udemy
4.5
(1,008)

Learn how to install and configure Asterisk Vo IP PBX on Linux to make phone calls following easy video tutorials...

15. Master Class: TCP/IP Mechanics from Scratch to Expert

udemy
4.7
(798)

Networking Course, UDP, TCP IP protocol Suite, Flow and Congestion Control, CCNA and others, TCP/IP Complete Course...

16. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support

udemy
4
(409)

Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...

17. Java Network Programming - TCP/IP Socket Programming

udemy
4.2
(604)

Learn how to write powerful network applications...

18. Optical Fiber Transmission Networks Using DWDM Technology

udemy
4.5
(615)

All you require to start with DWDM Technology, fundamentals, components: Mux/Demux, ROADMS, Amplifiers, transponders etc...

19. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting

udemy
4.2
(1,443)

Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...

20. Install Wordpress Locally - No Monthly Web Hosting Costs

udemy
4.7
(366)

Avoid the costs of web hosting as you learn to use Wordpress. Learn to install Wordpress on your own computer...

Top 10 most affordable universities for field installation engineers

The most affordable schools for field installation engineers are California State University - Long Beach, brigham young university, and california state university - los angeles.

If the best universities for field installation engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for field installation engineers.

1. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

4. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

6. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

7. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

8. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

9. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Cost of attendance

21,302

10. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for field installation engineers

The hardest universities for field installation engineers to get into are Northwestern University, California Institute of Technology, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for field installation engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for field installation engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for field installation engineers

The easiest schools for field installation engineers to get into are Oregon Institute of Technology, san francisco state university, and texas a&m; university - kingsville.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a field installation engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for field installation engineers.

1. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

2. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

3. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

4. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

5. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

6. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions rate

69%

SAT average

1,070

7. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

8. Portland State University

Portland, OR • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,111

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. Purdue University Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,080

Average field installation engineer salary by education level

According to our data, field installation engineers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $80,313 annually. Field installation engineers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $74,142.
Field installation engineer education levelField installation engineer salary
Master's Degree$74,142
Bachelor's Degree$65,552
Doctorate Degree$80,313

Field installation engineer education FAQs

Search for field installation engineer jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse architecture and engineering jobs