by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, instrumentation technology/technician was the 391st most popular major nationwide with 2,720 degrees awarded. This 125 less than the prior year, a decrease of 4.6%.
This year's Best Instrumentation Technology Schools ranking compares 27 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of instrumentation tech programs later in this article.
When studying Instrumentation Tech, you’ll learn that watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action and determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most instrumentation tech degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional instrumentation tech certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Instrumentation Tech degree levels vary. Instrumentation Technology programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest instrumentation tech degree you can get. Different instrumentation technology/technician degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to instrumentation tech, with approximately 41.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for instrumentation tech workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 41.0% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 29.7% |
| Some College Courses | 13.4% |
| High School Diploma | 12.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 3.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in instrumentation technology/technician careers have.
This of course varies depending on which instrumentation tech career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your instrumentation tech degree? Instrumentation Technology careers are expected to grow 2.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to instrumentation technology/technician.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical Technicians | 14,300 | 3.6% |
| Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers | 12,800 | 1.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for instrumentation tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for instrumentation technology/technician graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers instrumentation tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical Technicians | $60,240 |
| Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers | $58,060 |
With over 140 different instrumentation tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased instrumentation tech school rankings to help you with this.
Instrumentation Technology is one of 6 different types of Electromechanical Engineering Technology programs to choose from.
