How To Become A Field Service Technician: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How long does it take to become a Field Service Technician?

It takes 7 years of professional experience to become a field service technician. That is the time it takes to learn specific field service technician skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: How much does a field service technician make?

A field service technician makes about $33,000 a year. Those in the lower percentiles and entry-level positions only make around $25,000 a year. Alternately, the top percentiles and experienced people in the field can have an average salary of $45,000.

Q: How much does a field tech make?

A field tech makes between $25,000 and $45,000 annually. The median for this position is around $30,000. These numbers can vary depending on location, industry, and experience level. For example, experienced field tech employees in California working for a technology company will make a higher average salary than an entry-level field tech employee living in Alabama and working for a utility company.

Q: Is field service technician a good job?

Yes, field service technician is a good job. Whether it is a good job for you depends on your individual strengths and expectations for your career path. For example, a career as a field service technician is vanishingly unlikely to provide a six-figure salary.

Q: What does field technician mean?

A field technician means a professional who provides the programming, maintenance, and repairs to various telecommunications systems, equipment, cabling, and other related systems and equipment at all locations within the assigned work region.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a technician?

The qualifications needed to become a technician are, at minimum, a high school diploma or equivalent and certification. Additional education and experience may be required and are typically desirable.

What is a field service technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A field service technician provides on-site maintenance and repair services to customers' equipment or systems. They may work in various industries, such as manufacturing, technology, healthcare, or telecommunications. Field service technicians must have strong technical skills and knowledge of the equipment or systems they work on. They are responsible for diagnosing issues, performing repairs or installations, and conducting routine maintenance tasks. They also communicate with customers to explain technical information in a clear and concise manner.

ScoreField Service TechnicianUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $54,339

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 1.69%

Black or African American 4.82%

Hispanic or Latino 16.77%

Unknown 3.76%

White 72.23%

Gender

female 7.74%

male 92.26%

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

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a field service technician?

Pros

Hands-on experience with complex technology
On-the-job training and career advancement
Competitive salary and benefits
Chance to travel to different locations
Growing industry with high demand
Flexible schedule and ability to manage own workload

Cons

Working in various weather conditions
Exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals
Physical demands of the job, including lifting and climbing
High-pressure situations when dealing with urgent repairs
Long hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays

Key steps to become a field service technician

Explore field service technician education requirements

Most common field service technician degrees

Associate

40.2 %

Bachelor's

36.2 %

High School Diploma

10.6 %

Start to develop specific field service technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	19.06%
Preventative Maintenance	8.35%
Customer Satisfaction	6.14%
Technical Support	4.82%
Hand Tools	3.50%

Complete relevant field service technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New field service 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 field service technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real field service technician resumes.

Gain additional field service technician certifications

Field service technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific field service technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for field service technicians include Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

More About Certifications

Research field service technician duties and responsibilities

Manage onsite supporting contractors to achieve customers end result to satisfaction.
Lead initiatives to decrease manufacturing downtime and increase QA process inspection.
Manage a team of 12 field engineers and 130 MRI systems in NYC.
Collaborate to achieve a Citrix solution for the IADC shop floor and implement the current server farm.

Prepare your field service technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your field service 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 field service 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 field service technician resume templates

Build a professional field service 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 field service technician resume.