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What is an instrumentation & control engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Robert Saunders P.E.
introduction image

The instrumentation and control engineer is involved in designing, developing, maintaining, installing, and managing equipment that is required to monitor and control engineering machinery processes and systems. You will work with purchasers, scientists, a team of engineers, design engineers, operational engineers, and other internal personnel. You will manage to complete the project within a time and cost-constrained environment. You will also purchase equipment, provide consultancy support and advice, and write computer software. In addition, you will perform relevant research. You will be responsible for producing and adapting designs. Lastly, you will accept the level of accountability and responsibility attached to the seniority of the job post.

A degree in electronics, computing, electrical, mechanical engineering, or applied physics is generally required for the post. Problem-solving ability is important for the post. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are needed for the post because you will relate with others and clients. You must have great interpersonal skills to have a good relationship with others and be a good team player. You will be paid an average of $84,663 a year.

What general advice would you give to an instrumentation & control engineer?

Robert Saunders P.E.Robert Saunders P.E. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Department Head, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

The job market for an electrical engineering student coming out of college is challenging right now. Many companies are still hiring electrical engineering students but, the students can't be as finicky about what jobs they are accepting. More than half of the students are starting their new jobs working remotely, which is a large shift from normal but the companies seem to be using this time to bring the new hires up to speed on policy, procedures, and industry regulations.
ScoreInstrumentation & Control EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.2

Avg. Salary $92,464

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 14.50%

Black or African American 4.76%

Hispanic or Latino 10.99%

Unknown 4.69%

White 64.87%

Gender

female 9.76%

male 90.24%

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

Instrumentation & control engineer career paths

Key steps to become an instrumentation & control engineer

  1. Explore instrumentation & control engineer education requirements

    Most common instrumentation & control engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    78.2 %

    Master's

    10.0 %

    Associate

    8.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific instrumentation & control engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    PLC13.02%
    HMI7.72%
    SCADA5.14%
    Process Control4.64%
    Autocad4.48%
  3. Complete relevant instrumentation & control engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New instrumentation & control 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 an instrumentation & control engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real instrumentation & control engineer resumes.
  4. Research instrumentation & control engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Write and track purchase requisitions for parts and contract work then manage all contractors for electrical and HVAC work to completion.
    • Lead the development of smarter controls utilizing DeviceNet and Profibus architecture.
    • Develop control logic flow sheets, control loops, functional descriptions of control strategy, PLC programming and HMI configurations etc.
    • Land navigation with GPS, compass and maps.
  5. Prepare your instrumentation & control engineer resume

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

    Choose from 10+ customizable instrumentation & control engineer resume templates

    Build a professional instrumentation & control engineer 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 instrumentation & control engineer resume.
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
    Instrumentation & Control Engineer Resume
  6. Apply for instrumentation & control engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an instrumentation & control engineer 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

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Average instrumentation & control engineer salary

The average instrumentation & control engineer salary in the United States is $92,464 per year or $44 per hour. Instrumentation & control engineer salaries range between $70,000 and $121,000 per year.

Average instrumentation & control engineer salary
$92,464 Yearly
$44.45 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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