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Job outlook for product development technicians in the United States
Are product development technician jobs in demand?
Product development technician job and salary trends over time
Product development technician jobs over time
Product development technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 532 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 604 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 642 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 666 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 673 | 0.00% |
Average product development technician salary over time
Product development technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $82,950 | $39.88 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $80,138 | $38.53 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | $78,996 | $37.98 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $78,173 | $37.58 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $76,368 | $36.72 | +1.7% |
Product development technician jobs by state
Most common states for product development technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 611 | 46% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 291 | 39% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 472 | 35% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 267 | 35% |
| 5 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,038 | 33% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 3,199 | 31% |
| 7 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,865 | 31% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 269 | 31% |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,751 | 30% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 571 | 30% |
| 11 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 848 | 29% |
| 12 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,987 | 28% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,776 | 27% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 550 | 26% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,389 | 25% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,115 | 24% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,326 | 24% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 736 | 24% |
| 19 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 4,649 | 22% |
| 20 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,860 | 22% |
Most common cities for product development technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison Heights | 3 | 10% | $76,266 |
| 2 | Winona | 1 | 4% | $74,487 |
| 3 | Niles | 1 | 3% | $85,094 |
| 4 | Clarksville | 2 | 1% | $67,337 |
| 5 | Akron | 1 | 1% | $81,275 |
| 6 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $74,343 |
| 7 | Columbus | 1 | 1% | $84,997 |
| 8 | San Angelo | 1 | 1% | $106,296 |
| 9 | Tustin | 1 | 1% | $74,961 |
| 10 | Charlotte | 1 | 0% | $92,725 |
| 11 | Richmond | 1 | 0% | $80,726 |
Product Development Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of product development technician experts
Michigan Technological University
Missouri University of Science and Technology
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Palm Beach State College
University of Arizona
Southeastern Louisiana University
The University of New Hampshire's Central Science
What general advice would you give to a Product Development Technician?
John Irwin EdD: Engineering technology graduates are masters of technology, gaining a broad and deep understanding of the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain an engineering design. They act as technological integrators, bridging the gap between the skilled trades and engineering fundamentals. This is a great career path for those who enjoy engineering concepts but would rather spend time working with their hands solving specific technical issues than tackling broader, more complex design challenges.
What will help Product Development Technicians increase their earning potential?
John Irwin EdD: Engineering technology graduates develop, design, and implement engineering and technology solutions, typically pursuing engineering careers in design, construction, and product improvement. They work both in an office setting with design and simulation software as well as on the production/onsite setting troubleshooting issues for continuous improvements.
Dr. Rainer Glaser
Professor and ChairMissouri University of Science and Technology
Chemistry Department
What skills stand out on Product Development Technician resumes?
Dr. Rainer Glaser: Chemistry competence is key, of course. As a close second, chemists need to demonstrate effective team player competence. Communication skills are essential, in conversation and in writing. Effective collaboration requires highly developed skills to work with team members, peers, and leadership.
Christopher Bae Ph.D.
Professor, Department ChairUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Anthropology
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Product Development Technicians?
Christopher Bae Ph.D.: Yes and no. Obviously, hiring in anthropology, like most academic fields, has become more difficult now because of the economic impact of COVID-19 worldwide. However, anthropology graduates are still managing to find job placement in postdoctoral research fellowships, cultural resource management firms, and non-governmental organizations. The applied areas of anthropology are where positions can still be found fairly regularly. Moving forward, however, I anticipate a rebound, like in most fields, of hires more broadly in anthropology.
What Product Development Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Benjamin Ford: Students taking a gap year should think about where they want to end up, both geographically and in terms of a career, and position themselves accordingly. That might mean moving to where they eventually want to live, taking a job to pay the bills, and volunteering with an organization to build local contacts. They should also work to develop the skills that will make them necessary in their intended career. The world became much more digital in the last nine months. We will likely return to many of our pre-pandemic physical practices, but aspects of our remote-everything existence will likely stick with us. Developing skills to be successful in a digital environment will be important.
What type of skills will young Product Development Technicians need?
Dr. Alexandra Gorgevska Ph.D.: Graduates [of all ages] will continue to need hands-on skills, the ability to work both in the group and individual settings, and, most importantly, be curious and teachable. Soft skills have taken on greater importance over the years, so we provide ongoing events for outreach, scientific communication, interview preparation, etc., to help provide students with ways to improve and grow their soft skills.
We are seeing scientific communications transitioning from in-person to remote settings, and our students are excelling at rising to the challenges. South Florida has a diverse life science career field, and our students continue to be well prepared to enter the job market and succeed in their career paths.
What type of skills will young Product Development Technicians need?
John Wilbur Ph.D.: In the short-term, testing skills like PCR and ELISA seems essential, but I think the enduring skills or working with a team, writing, and other communication skills are most important.
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.
Department HeadSoutheastern Louisiana University
Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Product Development Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Mohammad Saadeh Ph.D.: IoT and automation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Product Development Technicians?
Glen P. Miller: Yes, there will be many enduring impacts. Office spaces and buildings will be devalued somewhat, while remote work and virtual meetings have become and will remain important. In chemistry and tangential fields, there will always be a need for in-person work in specialized laboratories, but the manner in which we communicate results internally and externally has changed. There will be less emphasis on in-person communication and a greater emphasis on remote and electronic communication, including email and video reports/presentations. Business travel will drop while skills that enable effective electronic communication will play an even larger role than they already do. Writing skills, including but not limited to technical writing, will become an increasingly valued characteristic of top employees. An ability to speak in a clear, articulate manner will also be prized. None of this, however, supersedes the need for graduates with a robust background in chemistry and a strong work ethic to match.
How do you envision technology impacting Product Development Technicians in the next 5 years?
Glen P. Miller: The chemistry field is constantly impacted by advancements in scientific instrumentation, hardware, and software, especially those that cut across adjacent fields like biology and materials science. Job seekers should be well-grounded in current technologies while aware of recent developments and trends.