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What is a field technical specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.

Field technical specialists provide customer service at its most practical level. They work in manufacturing or production sites, installing and repairing machinery. They run tests to diagnose errors, perform maintenance work on various equipment, troubleshoot technical problems, and offer long-lasting solutions.

You will need a technical degree or certification to take on this role. Gaining field service experience is a good idea before applying for a full-time position. You will need to be familiar with the use of necessary equipment. The work will probably take place in rotating shifts, so adjusting to flexible working hours will be essential.

A knack for problem-solving is what your success will depend on here, but building positive relationships with customers will equally be important. You will work in a team collaborating with other technical professionals, so communications skills and a teamwork mindset will definitely pay off, and you would earn around $44,799 every year.

What general advice would you give to a field technical specialist?

Babak Beheshti Ph.D.Babak Beheshti Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology

As most economies in the world have moved towards a "gig economy" paradigm, it is essential for graduates beginning their careers to adopt an entrepreneurial and self-guided career mindset. Young professionals would need to take charge of their professional development. This means that they must continually remind themselves that the knowledge learned shelf life is reducing more and more every year. New skills and technologies come into the picture. They must know these new skills on their own to maintain their competitive edge in the job market. Moreover, young professionals must view every position they hold to be an added chapter in their portfolio - every position held should be considered an experiential skill added to the resume.
ScoreField Technical SpecialistUS Average
Salary
5.4

Avg. Salary $69,467

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 10.55%

Black or African American 11.38%

Hispanic or Latino 16.34%

Unknown 5.39%

White 55.94%

Gender

female 15.08%

male 84.92%

Age - 41
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 - 41
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Field technical specialist career paths

Key steps to become a field technical specialist

  1. Explore field technical specialist education requirements

    Most common field technical specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.6 %

    Associate

    32.2 %

    High School Diploma

    7.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific field technical specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Technical Support13.99%
    Troubleshoot12.11%
    Customer Satisfaction7.83%
    Technical Assistance6.51%
    PC6.40%
  3. Complete relevant field technical specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New field technical specialists 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 technical specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real field technical specialist resumes.
  4. Research field technical specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage customer complaints and internal GMP audits for product manufacturing, coordinate FDA audits and recommend corrective actions.
    • Collaborate with telecommunication team to troubleshoot T1 to OC12.
    • Maintain corporate PC standards on software through SMS packaging and reporting.
    • Train in software for multiple surface equipment operations, including satellites and routers.
  5. Prepare your field technical specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your field technical specialist 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 technical specialist 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 technical specialist resume templates

    Build a professional field technical specialist 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 technical specialist resume.
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
    Field Technical Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for field technical specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a field technical specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first field technical specialist job

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Average field technical specialist salary

The average field technical specialist salary in the United States is $69,467 per year or $33 per hour. Field technical specialist salaries range between $50,000 and $95,000 per year.

Average field technical specialist salary
$69,467 Yearly
$33.40 hourly

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Field technical specialist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2023
Pros

You get to help a lot of people in many different ways as well as learning new things about technology

Cons

I have aids now due to the painfulness of sitting down all day


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

I decided to go to technical support because I've been fascinated by technology all my life and I love working with the people as well. I want to use my technical know-how to solve directly the problems that customers have. I want to be the person who makes life easier and more enjoyable for people who have had a problem. This is what I like most as a technical Support.

Cons

I don't like sitting around being inactive. So I'll keep my self always busy


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

I enjoy the challenges and learning new things . Technology is always evolving.

Cons

Customer is unwilling to provide you with necessary information in order to assist them.


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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.

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