Post job

What is a senior field service engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Alison Graettinger
introduction image

A senior field service engineer is in charge of installing, repairing, and maintaining equipment on client sites. That said, this job usually involves frequent traveling to client locations and responding to emergency calls. Furthermore, as a senior-level employee, a senior field service engineer may also be responsible for leading a team of subordinate engineers.

Aside from the duties mentioned above, a senior field service engineer also performs tasks such as scheduling preventive maintenance, maintaining accurate records, requesting new supplies, and managing the contract tendering process. Moreover, they usually train other staff members and help monitor their performance.

Most senior field service engineers have either an associate's or bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or something similar. And since they are already at the senior level, senior field service engineers have years of experience under their belt to earn that title.

Given their level of experience and expertise, the average pay for a senior field service engineer is around $39 per hour or roughly $80,000 a year.

What general advice would you give to a senior field service engineer?

Dr. Alison GraettingerDr. Alison Graettinger LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri - Kansas City

Some common challenges for field based positions is the amount of travel involved or working in extreme weather conditions.
ScoreSenior Field Service EngineerUS Average
Salary
6.8

Avg. Salary $87,414

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.4

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.11%

Asian 10.34%

Black or African American 3.39%

Hispanic or Latino 9.26%

Unknown 4.59%

White 72.31%

Gender

female 3.25%

male 96.75%

Age - 39
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 - 39
Stress level
7.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Senior field service engineer career paths

Key steps to become a senior field service engineer

  1. Explore senior field service engineer education requirements

    Most common senior field service engineer degrees

    Associate

    42.6 %

    Bachelor's

    42.3 %

    Master's

    4.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior field service engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service11.24%
    Customer Satisfaction9.55%
    Preventive Maintenance5.66%
    Control Systems4.98%
    Test Equipment4.65%
  3. Complete relevant senior field service engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior field service 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 a senior field service engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior field service engineer resumes.
  4. Research senior field service engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Identify, develop and implement action items to manage & improve software releases and develop guidelines in JavaScript coding.
    • Work on various POS systems.
    • Repair and maintain the UNISYS UNIX system.
    • Configure and maintain small to large scale SAN environments.
  5. Get senior field service engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior field service engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior field service engineer include field service technician, electronics technician team lead and field engineer.
  6. Prepare your senior field service engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior field service 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 a senior field service 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 senior field service engineer resume templates

    Build a professional senior field service 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 senior field service engineer resume.
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
    Senior Field Service Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for senior field service engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior field service 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

How did you land your first senior field service engineer job

Zippi

Are you a senior field service engineer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average senior field service engineer salary

The average senior field service engineer salary in the United States is $87,414 per year or $42 per hour. Senior field service engineer salaries range between $66,000 and $115,000 per year.

Average senior field service engineer salary
$87,414 Yearly
$42.03 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do senior field service engineers rate their job?

Working as a senior field service engineer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.

Browse architecture and engineering jobs