Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Calibration Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3028) earn a median $67,820 a year ($32.61 an hour) in the United States, with 16,540 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What calibration technologists and technicians do
Calibration technologists and technicians make sure the instruments that measure things are accurate. They carry out or adapt procedures for calibrating measurement devices, comparing each device with a reference standard of known accuracy and adjusting it or documenting its error. The work draws on measurement science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and electronics, and calibration staff sometimes work under the direction of engineers. They determine whether a measurement standard is suitable for calibrating a given device, and they may carry out preventive maintenance on the equipment and corrective action when a calibration problem turns up. The occupation differs from electrical and electronics technicians, who build and repair equipment more generally, and from quality control inspectors, who check finished products rather than the instruments used to check them. Medical equipment preparers and timing device assemblers and adjusters, who work with other kinds of equipment, are excluded by the SOC definition.
Also called: Calibration Technician, Calibration Specialist, Calibration Engineer, Calibration Technologist, Certified Calibration Technician.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.44 | $27.11 | $32.61 | $44.27 | $51.23 | $35.66 | 16,540 |
| Annual | $46,680 | $56,380 | $67,820 | $92,080 | $106,550 | $74,170 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where calibration technologists and technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.36 | $37.47 | $45.13 | $57.65 | $57.65 | $46.38 | 270 | 0.08 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $61,060 | $77,930 | $93,880 | $119,910 | $119,910 | $96,460 | ||||
| Oklahoma | Hourly | $20.90 | $29.36 | $38.91 | $43.55 | $47.54 | $36.55 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $43,460 | $61,060 | $80,920 | $90,590 | $98,890 | $76,020 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $28.57 | $31.10 | $38.78 | $46.55 | $49.44 | $39.80 | 480 | 0.25 | 2.35 |
| Annual | $59,430 | $64,690 | $80,670 | $96,820 | $102,830 | $82,770 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $25.32 | $29.75 | $37.98 | $48.19 | $56.27 | $39.67 | 1,250 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $52,670 | $61,890 | $79,010 | $100,240 | $117,040 | $82,510 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $26.67 | $28.98 | $37.47 | $40.24 | $47.73 | $35.53 | 30 | 0.11 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $55,460 | $60,280 | $77,950 | $83,710 | $99,270 | $73,900 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.20 | $27.46 | $35.62 | $48.02 | $51.98 | $37.26 | 5,020 | 0.36 | 3.36 |
| Annual | $46,170 | $57,110 | $74,100 | $99,880 | $108,120 | $77,490 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $25.32 | $29.75 | $37.98 | $48.19 | $56.27 | $39.67 | 1,250 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $52,670 | $61,890 | $79,010 | $100,240 | $117,040 | $82,510 | ||||
| Indiana | Hourly | $17.87 | $22.97 | $29.77 | $35.06 | $36.39 | $29.14 | 810 | 0.25 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $37,170 | $47,770 | $61,930 | $72,930 | $75,700 | $60,610 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.63 | $23.15 | $29.46 | $37.40 | $45.05 | $31.55 | 800 | 0.08 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $44,990 | $48,150 | $61,270 | $77,790 | $93,700 | $65,630 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $23.62 | $26.01 | $31.50 | $42.48 | $48.81 | $34.78 | 740 | 0.13 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $49,120 | $54,110 | $65,520 | $88,360 | $101,530 | $72,330 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.50 | $37.47 | $51.55 | $57.65 | $57.65 | $47.19 | 240 | 0.12 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $61,350 | $77,940 | $107,220 | $119,910 | $119,910 | $98,160 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $34.12 | $38.86 | $48.96 | $52.65 | $64.02 | $47.63 | 150 | 0.13 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $70,970 | $80,840 | $101,840 | $109,510 | $133,170 | $99,070 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.85 | $39.10 | $47.91 | $55.56 | $60.23 | $46.46 | 240 | 0.10 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $64,170 | $81,320 | $99,660 | $115,560 | $125,290 | $96,630 | ||||
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Hourly | $27.62 | $41.67 | $47.79 | $48.76 | $57.18 | $45.91 | 260 | 1.59 | 14.92 |
| Annual | $57,460 | $86,670 | $99,400 | $101,410 | $118,920 | $95,490 | ||||
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | Hourly | $30.64 | $36.22 | $45.76 | $45.76 | $56.04 | $42.43 | 40 | 0.14 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $63,730 | $75,330 | $95,180 | $95,180 | $116,560 | $88,260 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $22.65 | $29.21 | $37.80 | $48.76 | $51.59 | $38.51 | 1,930 | 0.59 | 5.51 |
| Annual | $47,100 | $60,760 | $78,610 | $101,420 | $107,300 | $80,100 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.63 | $28.13 | $30.84 | $45.01 | $60.39 | $36.90 | 890 | 0.22 | 2.06 |
| Annual | $47,070 | $58,510 | $64,150 | $93,620 | $125,600 | $76,750 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.15 | $27.47 | $34.59 | $44.28 | $53.71 | $36.10 | 630 | 0.07 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $48,150 | $57,140 | $71,950 | $92,100 | $111,710 | $75,090 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $26.61 | $29.75 | $34.44 | $40.54 | $48.54 | $36.04 | 430 | 0.07 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $55,350 | $61,890 | $71,640 | $84,310 | $100,970 | $74,970 | ||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $14.42 | $14.69 | $18.50 | $22.87 | $27.57 | $19.99 | 430 | 0.63 | 5.89 |
| Annual | $29,990 | $30,550 | $38,490 | $47,570 | $57,350 | $41,570 | ||||
Top industries employing calibration technologists and technicians
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services employ 20.5% of calibration technologists and technicians nationally (3,390 jobs) at a median $60,440 a year ($29.06 an hour), followed by Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (8.7%) and Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (7.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 3,390 | 20.5% | $60,440 | $29.06 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811200 | 1,440 | 8.7% | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing NAICS 334500 | 1,180 | 7.1% | $58,820 | $28.28 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing NAICS 325400 | 680 | 4.1% | $79,500 | $38.22 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 450 | 2.7% | $88,360 | $42.48 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (16,540). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,340 for calibration technologists and technicians in May 2021 and $67,820 in May 2025, with employment of 8,500 and 16,540.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,340 | $29.01 | 8,500 |
| May 2022 | $62,050 | $29.83 | 10,790 |
| May 2023 | $62,790 | $30.19 | 13,220 |
| May 2024 | $65,040 | $31.27 | 15,320 |
| May 2025 | $67,820 | $32.61 | 16,540 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
39 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $45.13 | $93,880 | $61,060 | $119,910 | 270 | 0.08 | 0.70 |
| 2 | Oklahoma profile | $38.91 | $80,920 | $43,460 | $98,890 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.81 |
| 3 | Louisiana profile | $38.78 | $80,670 | $59,430 | $102,830 | 480 | 0.25 | 2.35 |
| 4 | California profile | $37.98 | $79,010 | $52,670 | $117,040 | 1,250 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| 5 | Vermont profile | $37.47 | $77,950 | $55,460 | $99,270 | 30 | 0.11 | 1.07 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $37.04 | $77,040 | $57,700 | $114,140 | 390 | 0.09 | 0.87 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $36.30 | $75,500 | $47,840 | $96,400 | 380 | 0.11 | 0.98 |
| 8 | Texas profile | $35.62 | $74,100 | $46,170 | $108,120 | 5,020 | 0.36 | 3.36 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $34.97 | $72,730 | $50,110 | $110,620 | 330 | 0.08 | 0.75 |
| 10 | Tennessee profile | $34.45 | $71,660 | $57,810 | $94,690 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.36 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $33.72 | $70,140 | $49,090 | $92,600 | 400 | 0.09 | 0.84 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $33.28 | $69,230 | $48,260 | $102,430 | 400 | 0.12 | 1.15 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $33.09 | $68,830 | $54,290 | $102,540 | 170 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $32.36 | $67,300 | $47,000 | $114,940 | 80 | 0.05 | 0.45 |
| 15 | South Carolina profile | $32.17 | $66,910 | $49,920 | $96,480 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.27 |
| 16 | Georgia profile | $32.08 | $66,730 | $49,570 | $100,260 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.26 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $32.04 | $66,650 | $43,470 | $104,170 | 280 | 0.41 | 3.83 |
| 18 | New Mexico profile | $31.56 | $65,650 | $38,420 | $118,500 | 190 | 0.21 | 2.00 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $31.50 | $65,520 | $49,120 | $101,530 | 740 | 0.13 | 1.26 |
| 20 | Nevada profile | $31.03 | $64,530 | $38,640 | $96,200 | 110 | 0.07 | 0.67 |
| 21 | Rhode Island profile | $30.96 | $64,390 | $58,390 | $92,990 | 50 | 0.11 | 1.01 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.63 | $63,700 | $45,580 | $97,860 | 370 | 0.06 | 0.58 |
| 23 | Colorado profile | $30.61 | $63,660 | $48,860 | $103,070 | 260 | 0.09 | 0.84 |
| 24 | Nebraska profile | $30.54 | $63,530 | $55,490 | $80,030 | 130 | 0.13 | 1.17 |
| 25 | Connecticut profile | $30.49 | $63,420 | $53,680 | $93,320 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.66 |
| 26 | Indiana profile | $29.77 | $61,930 | $37,170 | $75,700 | 810 | 0.25 | 2.38 |
| 27 | Missouri profile | $29.57 | $61,510 | $47,320 | $78,540 | 280 | 0.10 | 0.90 |
| 28 | Iowa profile | $29.56 | $61,490 | $58,230 | $99,320 | 110 | 0.07 | 0.64 |
| 29 | New York profile | $29.46 | $61,270 | $44,990 | $93,700 | 800 | 0.08 | 0.77 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $29.36 | $61,060 | $48,390 | $89,080 | 320 | 0.11 | 1.03 |
| 31 | North Carolina profile | $29.33 | $61,000 | $49,720 | $99,160 | 410 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| 32 | Maryland profile | $29.26 | $60,860 | $51,340 | $130,290 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.68 |
| 33 | Minnesota profile | $29.02 | $60,360 | $49,650 | $99,180 | 400 | 0.13 | 1.26 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $28.74 | $59,770 | $41,250 | $95,860 | 480 | 0.05 | 0.45 |
| 35 | Illinois profile | $28.65 | $59,590 | $46,160 | $112,650 | ** | ** | ** |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $26.75 | $55,650 | $44,880 | $71,310 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.43 |
| – | Alaska profile | * | * | * | * | 30 | 0.11 | 1.00 |
| – | Arkansas profile | * | * | * | * | 230 | 0.18 | 1.65 |
| – | Kansas profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.04 | 0.35 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (17-3020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Architecture and Engineering Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 17-3028 Calibration Technologists and Technicians.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 17-3028, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 17-3028.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.