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What is an instrument mechanic and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an instrument mechanic. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.79 an hour? That's $53,646 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -1% and produce -1,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreInstrument MechanicUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,646

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.3

Growth rate -1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.24%

Asian 2.10%

Black or African American 8.22%

Hispanic or Latino 15.71%

Unknown 4.50%

White 68.22%

Gender

female 5.47%

male 94.53%

Age - 50
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 - 50
Stress level
9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.4

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Instrument mechanic career paths

Key steps to become an instrument mechanic

  1. Explore instrument mechanic education requirements

    Most common instrument mechanic degrees

    Associate

    51.6 %

    Bachelor's

    22.9 %

    High School Diploma

    9.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific instrument mechanic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Test Equipment11.08%
    Flow Meters9.75%
    HVAC9.26%
    Transmitters7.22%
    Control Valves5.75%
  3. Complete relevant instrument mechanic training and internships

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

    • Lead the planning and coordination of QC instrumentation and software qualification to be compliant with best practices.
    • Hire to provide repair and calibration of process control systems such as controllers, transmitters and static measuring devices.
    • Test and repair automatic transfer switches.
    • Work perform in an ISO certify, FDA audit cGMP facility.
  5. Prepare your instrument mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your instrument mechanic 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 an instrument mechanic resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable instrument mechanic resume templates

    Build a professional instrument mechanic 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 instrument mechanic resume.
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
    Instrument Mechanic Resume
  6. Apply for instrument mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an instrument mechanic 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 instrument mechanic job

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Average instrument mechanic salary

The average instrument mechanic salary in the United States is $53,646 per year or $26 per hour. Instrument mechanic salaries range between $35,000 and $80,000 per year.

Average instrument mechanic salary
$53,646 Yearly
$25.79 hourly

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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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