How To Become A Field Test Engineer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a field test engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Alison Graettinger

Field testing is a critical phase of the development process, be it for automobiles, mobile phones, or computer hardware. That said, a field test engineer plays a crucial role in ensuring that products meet quality and safety standards before being made available to the public.

The work responsibilities of a field test engineer revolve around developing field-testing standards, overseeing actual tests, managing systems that contain test results, and troubleshooting issues involved in the field testing process. They also collaborate with field testers, development managers, and other people that contribute to the product development process.

To become a field test engineer, one typically needs a degree in engineering, majoring in a field that is relevant to their intended industry, but in general, degrees in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering are the most common for this career path. Depending on their employer, an aspiring field test engineer would also need to have appropriate state licensure. In terms of salary, the average pay for this role is around $35 an hour or about $72,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to a field test engineer?

Dr. Alison Graettinger

Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri - Kansas City

Some common challenges for field based positions is the amount of travel involved or working in extreme weather conditions.

ScoreField Test EngineerUS Average

Salary

5.8

Avg. Salary $74,767

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 16.76%

Black or African American 4.90%

Hispanic or Latino 11.43%

Unknown 4.72%

White 62.01%

Gender

female 10.72%

male 89.28%

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

Key steps to become a field test engineer

Explore field test engineer education requirements

Most common field test engineer degrees

Bachelor's

64.6 %

Master's

14.7 %

Associate

11.8 %

Start to develop specific field test engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Field Testing	9.12%
Test Results	6.75%
RF	5.11%
Data Collection	4.49%
Test Procedures	4.03%

Complete relevant field test engineer training and internships

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

Research field test engineer duties and responsibilities

Manage testing and educating of un-markete Samsung phones for user trial.
Promote from original position as a staff engineer managing a variety of geotechnical engineering activities to a field engineer inspector position.
Experience with wireless voice and data networks base in the following technologies: LTE, UMTS, CDMA, EVDO.
Plot maps using MapInfo and edit different drive routes according to customer requirements.

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