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What is a lead instrument technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
The average lead instrument technician salary is $71,520. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an electrical engineering major. It usually takes 6-12 months of experience to become a lead instrument technician. Lead instrument technicians with a Instrumentation Certification certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 0% and produce -400 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreLead Instrument TechnicianUS Average
Salary
5.6

Avg. Salary $71,520

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 8.05%

Black or African American 6.26%

Hispanic or Latino 10.43%

Unknown 4.32%

White 70.79%

Gender

female 13.32%

male 86.68%

Age - 52
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 - 52
Stress level
5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Lead instrument technician career paths

Key steps to become a lead instrument technician

  1. Explore lead instrument technician education requirements

    Most common lead instrument technician degrees

    Associate

    42.9 %

    Bachelor's

    31.1 %

    Diploma

    9.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific lead instrument technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Sterilizers22.89%
    OSHA18.94%
    PLC7.23%
    Patient Care5.60%
    Transmitters3.70%
  3. Complete relevant lead instrument technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead instrument technicians 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 lead instrument technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead instrument technician resumes.
  4. Gain additional lead instrument technician certifications

    Lead instrument technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific lead instrument technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for lead instrument technicians include Instrumentation Certification and Industrial Instrumentation - Level I.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research lead instrument technician duties and responsibilities

    • Supervise and manage several environmental ECAS annual, monthly and weekly reports in cooperation with regional CEMS manager for federal compliance.
    • Use of HMI terminals to record instrument readings from field equipment and standards along with the required GMP documentation.
    • Develop plant MCC bucket standard.
    • Review CMMS data & provide enhancements.
  6. Get lead instrument technician experience

    Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become a lead instrument technician. The most common roles before becoming a lead instrument technician include instrument technician, ic technician team lead and instrument and electrical technician.
  7. Prepare your lead instrument technician resume

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

    Choose from 10+ customizable lead instrument technician resume templates

    Build a professional lead instrument technician 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 lead instrument technician resume.
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
    Lead Instrument Technician Resume
  8. Apply for lead instrument technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a lead instrument technician 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 lead instrument technician job

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Average lead instrument technician salary

The average lead instrument technician salary in the United States is $71,520 per year or $34 per hour. Lead instrument technician salaries range between $49,000 and $102,000 per year.

Average lead instrument technician salary
$71,520 Yearly
$34.38 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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