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Instrument mechanic salary
Average instrument mechanic salary
$53,646
Understanding Instrument Mechanic Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Instrument Mechanic is $53,646 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, Instrument Mechanics in high-demand areas or specialized sectors may earn significantly more. In addition to base salaries, many positions offer benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level Instrument Mechanics typically earn lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can see substantial increases. For example, those with over five years may earn upwards of $60,000 annually.
Highest Paying States
States with a robust industrial presence, like Texas and California, often provide higher wages for Instrument Mechanics. Research shows that these states frequently list salaries above the national average, making them attractive locations for job seekers in this field.
Job Opportunities
Instrument Mechanics can find employment in various sectors, including manufacturing, oil and gas, and utilities. Exploring job listings on platforms like Zippia can reveal opportunities that align with your skills and salary expectations.
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Where can an Instrument Mechanic earn more?
Instrument mechanic salaries by experience level
Instrument mechanic salary estimates from across the web
Average instrument mechanic salary by state
The highest-paying states for instrument mechanics are California, Alaska, and Washington. The lowest average instrument mechanic salary states are Arkansas, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for instrument mechanics
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $73,202 | $35.19 |
| 2 | Nevada | $58,495 | $28.12 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $53,895 | $25.91 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $55,401 | $26.64 |
| 5 | Utah | $57,823 | $27.80 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $51,394 | $24.71 |
| 7 | California | $73,463 | $35.32 |
| 8 | Colorado | $59,144 | $28.43 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $48,830 | $23.48 |
| 10 | Idaho | $52,485 | $25.23 |
| 11 | Washington | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| 12 | Mississippi | $47,123 | $22.66 |
| 13 | Texas | $50,424 | $24.24 |
| 14 | Alabama | $46,078 | $22.15 |
| 15 | Oregon | $54,553 | $26.23 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $51,528 | $24.77 |
| 17 | Ohio | $47,927 | $23.04 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $58,386 | $28.07 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $54,894 | $26.39 |
| 20 | Montana | $43,892 | $21.10 |
| 21 | Iowa | $41,616 | $20.01 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| 23 | Delaware | $45,315 | $21.79 |
| 24 | Kansas | $43,788 | $21.05 |
| 25 | New York | $49,517 | $23.81 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $41,854 | $20.12 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $46,673 | $22.44 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $43,445 | $20.89 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $41,928 | $20.16 |
| 30 | Indiana | $40,819 | $19.62 |
| 31 | Arizona | $42,756 | $20.56 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $42,388 | $20.38 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $40,279 | $19.36 |
| 34 | Georgia | $43,151 | $20.75 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $42,736 | $20.55 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $39,861 | $19.16 |
| 37 | Illinois | $44,998 | $21.63 |
| 38 | Michigan | $42,262 | $20.32 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $38,832 | $18.67 |
| 40 | Missouri | $41,213 | $19.81 |
| 41 | Florida | $39,283 | $18.89 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $40,340 | $19.39 |
| 43 | Maryland | $37,552 | $18.05 |
| 44 | Virginia | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $38,919 | $18.71 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $39,648 | $19.06 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $38,301 | $18.41 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $33,347 | $16.03 |
| 49 | Vermont | $31,981 | $15.38 |
| 50 | Maine | $33,344 | $16.03 |
| 51 | Massachusetts | $35,233 | $16.94 |
Highest paying cities for instrument mechanics
The highest-paying cities for instrument mechanics are Fairbanks, AK, Sayreville, NJ, and Lewiston, ID.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairbanks, AK | $74,669 | $35.90 |
| 2 | Sayreville, NJ | $54,886 | $26.39 |
| 3 | Lewiston, ID | $53,304 | $25.63 |
| 4 | Fort Worth, TX | $49,934 | $24.01 |
| 5 | Saint Louis, MO | $40,439 | $19.44 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $34,842 | $16.75 |
Instrument mechanic salary details
An instrument mechanic's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an instrument mechanic's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $53,646 | $4,471 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying instrument mechanic jobs
The highest paying types of instrument mechanics are electrical supervisor, technical supervisor, and section chief.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facility Supervisor | $41,114 | $3,426 | $19.77 | 19,423 |
| Electrical Supervisor | $90,972 | $7,581 | $43.74 | 33,839 |
| Section Chief | $78,816 | $6,568 | $37.89 | 13,655 |
| Maintenance Superintendent | $77,482 | $6,457 | $37.25 | 69,775 |
| Technical Supervisor | $89,670 | $7,472 | $43.11 | 83,226 |
| Maintenance Supervisor | $57,674 | $4,806 | $27.73 | 86,333 |
Top companies hiring instrument mechanics now:
Which companies pay instrument mechanics the most?
Instrument mechanic salaries at Merck and Clearwater Paper are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average instrument mechanic salary at companies like Exelon and Lockheed Martin are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merck | $72,169 | $34.70 |
| 2 | Clearwater Paper | $67,565 | $32.48 |
| 3 | Exelon | $67,408 | $32.41 |
| 4 | Lockheed Martin | $65,619 | $31.55 |
| 5 | Tennessee Valley Authority | $65,537 | $31.51 |
| 6 | Mallinckrodt | $63,502 | $30.53 |
| 7 | AdvanSix | $59,200 | $28.46 |
| 8 | University of Alaska | $58,865 | $28.30 |
| 9 | DuPont | $58,163 | $27.96 |
| 10 | Boston College | $56,136 | $26.99 |
| 11 | Monument Chemical | $55,866 | $26.86 |
| 12 | NANA | $54,525 | $26.21 |
| 13 | Silestone by Cosentino | $53,979 | $25.95 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Instrument Mechanic salary by industry
The average instrument mechanic salary varies across industries:
- The average instrument mechanic salary in the energy industry is $73,680, the highest of any industry.
- The average instrument mechanic salary in the finance industry is $65,805.
- Instrument mechanics in the technology industry earn an average salary of $56,213, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for instrument mechanics
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $73,680 | $35.42 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $65,805 | $31.64 |
| 3 | Utilities | $65,517 | $31.50 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $62,087 | $29.85 |
| 5 | Media | $60,198 | $28.94 |
| 6 | Technology | $56,213 | $27.03 |
High paying instrument mechanic jobs
Instrument mechanic salary trends
The average instrument mechanic salary has risen by $7,936 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average instrument mechanic earned $45,710 annually, but today, they earn $53,646 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for instrument mechanics over the last decade.
Compare instrument mechanic salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average instrument mechanic salary over time
Compare instrument mechanic salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Instrument mechanic salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,600 | $25.79 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $51,500 | $24.77 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $50,500 | $24.29 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $49,500 | $23.79 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $48,500 | $23.33 | +0.8% |
Recently added instrument mechanic salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mallinckrodt | Instrument Mechanic | Saint Louis, MO | 06/27/2025 | $85,922 |
| Marathon Petroleum | Instrument Mechanic | Detroit, MI | 06/09/2025 | $103,265 |
| It Works | Instrument Mechanic | Waukegan, IL | 06/09/2025 | $72,315 |
| NRG Energy, Inc. | Instrument Mechanic | Waukegan, IL | 06/06/2025 | $72,315 |
| Mallinckrodt | Instrument Mechanic | Saint Louis, MO | 05/27/2025 | $85,922 |
| Mallinckrodt | Instrument Mechanic | Saint Louis, MO | 04/29/2025 | $85,922 |
| Marathon Petroleum | Instrument Mechanic | Detroit, MI | 03/28/2025 | $103,265 |
| Mallinckrodt | Instrument Mechanic | Saint Louis, MO | 03/28/2025 | $85,922 |
| Mallinckrodt | Instrument Mechanic | Saint Louis, MO | 02/27/2025 | $85,922 |
| Naval Nuclear Laboratory | Instrument Mechanic-A (5407) | Fine, NY | 02/21/2025 | $74,819 |
Instrument mechanic salary FAQs
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