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What does an instrument specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

An instrumentation specialist is responsible for planning, creating, and designing different instructional materials or equipment for a particular project. They usually use devices and tools for the production and operation and give information to organizations such as schools, private institutions, government offices, and other companies. They ensure that all the instruments required are working correctly, efficiently, and safely. They also test, inspect and repair mechanical equipment with a technician's help.

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Instrument specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real instrument specialist resumes:

  • Accomplish team sales of 464K in clinical chemistry and hematology instrumentation.
  • Calibrate and maintain plant instrumentation including HVAC, valves, transmitters, indicators, controllers and recorders.
  • Calibrate, troubleshoot and repair electrical and electronics equipment including PLC's, utility equipment and machinery computers.
  • Procure and maintain NIST traceable standards.
  • Adjust the computer I/O boards as needed.
  • Compile necessary documentation for FDA audit and ensure compliance.
  • Coordinate drilling, grout injection, and QC operations.
  • Create macros to address users requirements and for GMP compliance.
  • Maintain and programme Scada PLC, network and computer systems.
  • Calibrate micrometers bore gauges, calipers, height gauges and in-house fixtures.
  • Maintain HIPAA compliance, review records and make recommendations for medical devices.
  • Design HMI screens for the new centrifuge system as per plant staff needs.
  • Develop Honeywell UMC800/HC900 & Intellution iFix SCADA software with some I/O panel design.
  • Use of micrometers, calipers, height gages, depth gages and thread gages.
  • Interact with NIST to ensure that require uncertainties are met and traceability are maintained.

Instrument specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 8% of Instrument Specialists are proficient in PLC, Chemistry, and Laboratory Equipment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Mechanical skills, Writing skills, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Instrument Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PLC, 8%

    Created PLC interface for microprocessor based GC and PC improving measurement consistency and efficiency.

  • Chemistry, 7%

    Closed a $2.7M sale of chemistry capital equipment to Heritage Labs in 2005 and an $800K sale in 2004.

  • Laboratory Equipment, 6%

    Support in Preventive Maintenance programs, Calibrations, Troubleshooting and repair of Laboratory Equipment by executing and documenting all associated activities.

  • Troubleshoot, 5%

    Configure and troubleshoot flow meters, pressure switches and all instrument controls.

  • Surgical Instruments, 4%

    Demonstrated high level of productivity and efficiency in accurately maintaining surgical instruments.

  • Routine Maintenance, 4%

    Perform and document routine maintenance and calibration of equipment and instrumentation, at Scheduled intervals.

Common skills that an instrument specialist uses to do their job include "plc," "chemistry," and "laboratory equipment." You can find details on the most important instrument specialist responsibilities below.

Mechanical skills. The most essential soft skill for an instrument specialist to carry out their responsibilities is mechanical skills. This skill is important for the role because "electronic engineering technologists and technicians must use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to build components by hand." Additionally, an instrument specialist resume shows how their duties depend on mechanical skills: "inspect, repair and maintain electrical and electromechanical operating and control systems, equipment and fixtures. "

Writing skills. Another essential skill to perform instrument specialist duties is writing skills. Instrument specialists responsibilities require that "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians write reports about onsite construction, design problems, or testing results." Instrument specialists also use writing skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assisted software programmer in writing calibration procedures and automating small instrument calibration work stations which enabled the training of additional workers. "

Math skills. This is an important skill for instrument specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how instrument specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting tasks." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an instrument specialist: "analyze and convert test data using mathematical formulas. ".

Detail oriented. For certain instrument specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of an instrument specialist rely on this skill, as "electrical engineering technologists and technicians must pay attention to detail when assembling, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic and electrical mechanical systems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what instrument specialists do: "detailed the technical benefits of chemistry and immunochemistry instrumentation. "

All instrument specialist skills

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Compare different instrument specialists

Instrument specialist vs. 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. Your main job is to test various components and features of the product to identify and resolve technical issues. Other duties include organizing and conducting training for junior team members, creating test environments, and identifying the root cause of technical issues.

If we compare the average instrument specialist annual salary with that of a technical testing engineer, we find that technical testing engineers typically earn a $20,668 higher salary than instrument specialists make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between instrument specialists and technical testing engineers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like plc, technical support, and data analysis.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, instrument specialist responsibilities require skills like "chemistry," "laboratory equipment," "troubleshoot," and "surgical instruments." Meanwhile a typical technical testing engineer has skills in areas such as "test results," "schematics," "test procedures," and "test data." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Technical testing engineers tend to make the most money working in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $93,229. In contrast, instrument specialists make the biggest average salary, $85,084, in the energy industry.The education levels that technical testing engineers earn slightly differ from instrument specialists. In particular, technical testing engineers are 4.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an instrument specialist. Additionally, they're 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Instrument specialist vs. Cryptological technician

In the information technology industry, a cryptological technician specializes in installing and maintaining systems to ensure quality and efficiency in designs. Among their responsibilities include responding to issues and concerns, conducting inspections, troubleshooting problems, and performing corrective repairs. They may also conduct regular maintenance checks, replace or upgrade systems, and produce progress reports as needed. Furthermore, as a cryptological technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.

On average, cryptological technicians earn a $20,484 lower salary than instrument specialists a year.A few skills overlap for instrument specialists and cryptological technicians. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "test equipment," "computer system," and "electronic equipment. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that instrument specialist responsibilities requires skills like "plc," "chemistry," "laboratory equipment," and "troubleshoot." But a cryptological technician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "corrective maintenance," "ctt," "technical guidance," and "computer equipment."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Cryptological technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than instrument specialists. In fact, they're 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Instrument specialist vs. Calibration technician

The calibration technician's primary role in manufacturing industries is to make sure that measurements taken with the use of equipment are accurate. They are responsible for the regular monitoring and maintenance of equipment and instruments to ensure that their readings and output match the desired results. Their duties include testing, maintenance, routine inspection, as well as the repair of instruments and manufacturing equipment. Important skills required for the job include keen attention to detail, analytical skills, and coordination for conducting tests with various equipment.

An average calibration technician eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of instrument specialists. The difference in salaries amounts to calibration technicians earning a $20,791 lower average salary than instrument specialists.By looking over several instrument specialists and calibration technicians resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "plc," "laboratory equipment," and "troubleshoot." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from instrument specialist resumes include skills like "chemistry," "surgical instruments," "routine maintenance," and "control systems," whereas a calibration technician is more likely to list skills in "metrology," "customer service," "calibration procedures," and "hand tools. "

Calibration technicians make a very good living in the pharmaceutical industry with an average annual salary of $77,957. On the other hand, instrument specialists are paid the highest salary in the energy industry, with average annual pay of $85,084.When it comes to education, calibration technicians tend to earn lower degree levels compared to instrument specialists. In fact, they're 5.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Instrument specialist vs. Electronics repair technician

An electronics repair technician assists in the design, development, testing, repair, and maintenance of electronic and electrical equipment and devices such as computers, navigational equipment, and communication equipment. Your duties will include configuring files on routers, hubs, switches, and internet controllers, installing new electronic systems and equipment, and running software tests and upgrading software. Additional duties include performing preventative maintenance, maintaining reports and manuals, training new technicians in problem prevention and troubleshooting, and removing and replacing faulty components and parts.

Electronics repair technicians tend to earn a lower pay than instrument specialists by an average of $26,183 per year.While both instrument specialists and electronics repair technicians complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like plc, electrical systems, and transmitters, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "chemistry," "laboratory equipment," "troubleshoot," and "surgical instruments" are skills that commonly show up on instrument specialist resumes. On the other hand, electronics repair technicians use skills like electronic distance, night vision equipment, hand tools, and oscilloscopes on their resumes.electronics repair technicians enjoy the best pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $50,672. For comparison, instrument specialists earn the highest salary in the energy industry.The average resume of electronics repair technicians showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to instrument specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 5.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.3%.

Types of instrument specialist

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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