How to hire an instrument and controls technician

How to hire an instrument and controls technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step instrument and controls technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an instrument and controls technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new instrument and controls technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an instrument and controls technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your instrument and controls technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an instrument and controls technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An instrument and controls technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, instrument and controls technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents instrument and controls technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Instrument And Controls Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Instrument And Controls Technician	Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment... Show more	$23-41
   Technical Testing Engineer	A technical testing engineer is responsible for inspecting and reporting the quality of products across the production cycle. You will thoroughly check procedures, materials, and electrical and mechanical systems to produce high-quality products for customers... Show more	$29-60
   Assembly & Test Technician	An assembly test technician works at manufacturing facilities where they are in charge of assembling product components and subjecting them to various tests, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their organization of employment, it usually includes understanding diagrams and project requirements, establishing and implementing test parameters, operating tools and equipment, maintaining records, and producing detailed reports... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Control Systems
   • Electrical Equipment
   • Process Control
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Test Equipment
   • Transmitters
   • PLC
   • Electrical Systems
   • Hand Tools
   • Control Valves
   • Programmable Logic Controllers
   • P Id
   • HMI
   • SCADA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise and manage several environmental ECAS annual, monthly and weekly reports in cooperation with regional CEMS manager for federal compliance.
   • Project consist of two Siemens 501F gas turbines, one Siemens steam turbine, and a WDPF DCS.
   • Install and programme VFD's and Softstarts.
   • Build new operator panels for CNC controllers.
   • Develop new screens for the water treatment plants HMI's system.
   • Install, repair and replace electrical motors, VFD and motor controls.

   More instrument and controls technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your instrument and controls technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An instrument and controls technician can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, instrument and controls technicians' average salary in nebraska is 37% less than in maryland.
   • Seniority. Entry-level instrument and controls technicians 44% less than senior-level instrument and controls technicians.
   • Certifications. An instrument and controls technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an instrument and controls technician's salary.

   Average instrument and controls technician salary

   $64,516yearly

   $31.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level instrument and controls technician salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average instrument and controls technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$79,296	$38
   2	Massachusetts	$76,250	$37
   3	Hawaii	$75,921	$37
   4	New Jersey	$75,881	$36
   5	New York	$73,926	$36
   6	Delaware	$71,642	$34
   7	Oregon	$69,729	$34
   8	Alaska	$69,339	$33
   9	District of Columbia	$64,448	$31
   10	Colorado	$63,227	$30
   11	Texas	$62,809	$30
   12	New Mexico	$61,284	$29
   13	North Carolina	$60,077	$29
   14	Illinois	$59,803	$29
   15	Virginia	$59,308	$29
   16	Minnesota	$59,088	$28
   17	Kentucky	$53,798	$26
   18	Arizona	$51,852	$25
   19	Florida	$50,817	$24

   Average instrument and controls technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Evonik	$90,222	$43.38	8
   2	Intel	$90,106	$43.32
   3	The Coca-Cola Company	$88,541	$42.57	4
   4	NRG Energy	$85,388	$41.05	6
   5	Jefferson Lab	$81,099	$38.99
   6	Brookhaven National Laboratory	$80,502	$38.70
   7	GlobalFoundries	$80,204	$38.56
   8	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$79,941	$38.43	12
   9	Constellation Energy Partners	$78,032	$37.52	3
   10	Metropolitan Water District of Southern California	$77,630	$37.32
   11	City of San Jos	$76,621	$36.84
   12	Jacobs Engineering Group	$76,452	$36.76
   13	Southern	$75,412	$36.26	7
   14	Pacifi	$74,708	$35.92	5
   15	DTE Energy	$74,527	$35.83	4
   16	Metropolitan Utilities District	$74,012	$35.58
   17	Southern California Edison	$73,654	$35.41	6
   18	The Clorox Company	$73,058	$35.12	12
   19	Blue Origin	$72,836	$35.02	43
   20	Tesla	$72,662	$34.93

4. Writing an instrument and controls technician job description

   A job description for an instrument and controls technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an instrument and controls technician job description:

   Instrument and controls technician job description example

   At Wolfspeed, we do amazing things in a human way.
   We know that the achievements of our organization are due to the passion, hard work and creativity of our employees. We celebrate different perspectives to foster excellence across our organization, and our goal is to make diversity a foundation of what we do. We are proudly building an environment where you can bring your authentic self to work.
   Enjoy doing things that people say can't be done? Innovation is at the center of everything we do.Hate red tape? We remove roadblocks instead of creating them.Working parent? We provide childcare assistance and paid parental leave.Student? We offer continuing education assistance.Looking for community? There are many ways to get involved, from Employee Resource Groups to local outreach.
   
   Here's the Gist:
   Wolfspeed is looking for an Instrumentation and Controls Technician to join our team. This position processes a high-level skill set in Instrumentation and Controls (I&C). The position allows a candidate to work on all instrumentation and controls for components, equipment and systems in a semiconductor facility. This position is responsible for the preventive, predictive, corrective maintenance and repairs of the instrumentation and controls of all associated facilities equipment.
   
   The Day-to-Day:
   Troubleshoot programming and system faults for plant equipment and modify existing programs to improve sequencingadd/modify/remove alarms, and aide in improved troubleshooting and error response within the plant PLCs, HMIs, and automated systems.Perform calibrations of Flow, Temperature, Pressure, and Humidity Transmitters.Work with Mechanical, Electrical, and Process Engineers to correct deficiencies in systems across the site.
   
   This Job is Right for You if You Have (Minimum Requirements):
   Associates Degree from Accredited or Technical College with a combination of experience OR 5+ years of applicable experience Superior troubleshooting ability Ability to work with minimal InstructionExperience tuning PID loops Proficiency in reading blueprints and electrical schematics Proficiency and experience troubleshooting integrated HMI/PLC control systems, including proficiency evaluating/modifying associated programming and devices. (Rockwell RSLogix 500/Studio 5000 experience required) Must possess a high school education, GED, or equilvant.Physical requirements include lifting up to 50lbs regularly, being able to stand or walk majority of a shift, must be able to climb ladders and stairs, and be able to bend or twist as needed to complete tasks.
   
   This role may require additional duties and/or assignments as designated by management.
   
   To put it legally - Wolfspeed is an equal opportunity employer.
   We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation and other protected status as required by law.
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right instrument and controls technician for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your instrument and controls technician job on Zippia to find and recruit instrument and controls technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit instrument and controls technicians, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new instrument and controls technician

   Once you've decided on a perfect instrument and controls technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new instrument and controls technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an instrument and controls technician?