Best institutions to study Instrumentation Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers engaged in developing control and measurement systems and procedures.
78 U.S. institutions graduated 3,068 Instrumentation Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.0404, a specialization of Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.04), and leads most directly to the Calibration Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 17-3028).
About Instrumentation Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers engaged in developing control and measurement systems and procedures. Includes instruction in instrumentation design and maintenance, calibration, design and production testing and scheduling, automated equipment functions, applications to specific industrial tasks, and report preparation.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Instrumentation Technology/Technician program prepares students to support engineers in developing control and measurement systems. This program is ideal for individuals interested in applying engineering principles and technical skills in various industrial settings. Students will gain hands-on experience in instrumentation design, maintenance, and calibration, making it suitable for those who enjoy working with technology and machinery.
Core coursework includes instruction in instrumentation design, calibration, automated equipment functions, and report preparation. Students will also learn to conduct performance tests and develop new calibration methods based on measurement science.
Credentials awarded
What Instrumentation Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree1,047 graduates / yr · 56 institutions34%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year951 graduates / yr · 31 institutions31%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years869 graduates / yr · 33 institutions28%
- Award of less than 12 weeks102 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.3%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years68 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.2%
- Bachelor's degree31 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.0%
Graduates over time
Instrumentation Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,657 |
| 2013 | 1,773 |
| 2014 | 2,198 |
| 2015 | 2,461 |
| 2016 | 2,501 |
| 2017 | 2,776 |
| 2018 | 2,960 |
| 2019 | 2,862 |
| 2020 | 2,844 |
| 2021 | 2,720 |
| 2022 | 2,624 |
| 2023 | 2,544 |
| 2024 | 2,697 |
| 2025 | 3,068 |
Top 50 institutions for Instrumentation Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 300 | 43% | — | $51,912 |
| 2 | River Parishes Community College Gonzales, LAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 287 | 30% | — | $47,726 |
| 3 | Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 264 | 77% | — | $46,892 |
| 4 | Lee College Baytown, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 178 | 53% | — | — |
| 5 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 162 | 30% | — | $53,710 |
| 6 | Brazosport College Lake Jackson, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 153 | 56% | — | — |
| 7 | Nunez Community College Chalmette, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 113 | 27% | — | — |
| 8 | San Juan College Farmington, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 112 | 37% | — | — |
| 9 | St Philip's College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 93 | 28% | — | — |
| 10 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 76 | 48% | — | — |
| 11 | Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 72 | 30% | — | — |
| 12 | Frank Phillips College Borger, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 71 | 45% | — | $56,120 |
| 13 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TXPublicAssociate's | 69 | 46% | — | $59,719 |
| 14 | Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 68 | 31% | — | $54,104 |
| 15 | Perry Technical Institute Yakima, WAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 67 | 79% | $24,069 | $75,843 |
| 16 | ITI Technical College Baton Rouge, LAPrivate for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 60 | 59% | $20,818 | $58,261 |
| 17 | Palo Alto College San Antonio, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 56 | 33% | — | — |
| 18 | Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 55 | 37% | — | — |
| 19 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 48 | 43% | — | — |
| 20 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, ILPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 43 | 44% | — | — |
| 21 | Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 43 | 53% | $17,520 | $61,225 |
| 22 | Galveston College Galveston, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 43 | 33% | — | — |
| 23 | Lamar State College - Port Arthur Port Arthur, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 42 | 45% | — | — |
| 24 | Bishop State Community College Mobile, ALPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 36% | — | — |
| 25 | Great Basin College Elko, NVPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsBachelor's | 34 | 41% | — | $67,063 |
| 26 | Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 34 | 21% | — | — |
| 27 | Fletcher Technical Community College Schriever, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 32 | 30% | — | — |
| 28 | Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 31 | 52% | — | — |
| 29 | Big Bend Technical College Perry, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 98% | — | — |
| 30 | Bevill State Community College Jasper, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 28 | 38% | — | — |
| 31 | Kilgore College Kilgore, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 28 | 39% | — | — |
| 32 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Okmulgee, OKPublicBachelor's | 26 | 42% | — | — |
| 33 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, NDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 47% | — | $77,701 |
| 34 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 64% | — | — |
| 35 | Panola College Carthage, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 43% | — | — |
| 36 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 16 | 21% | — | — |
| 37 | Houston City College Houston, TXPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 16 | 17% | — | — |
| 38 | Remington College - Baton Rouge Campus Baton Rouge, LAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 16 | 41% | $23,658 | $45,445 |
| 39 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 28% | — | — |
| 40 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicAssociate's | 11 | 39% | — | — |
| 41 | Bellingham Technical College Bellingham, WAPublicAssociate's | 11 | 42% | — | — |
| 42 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 11 | 47% | — | — |
| 43 | Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico - Recinto de Manati Manati, PRPublicAssociate's | 10 | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | Ridgewater College Willmar, MNPublicAssociate's | 9 | 50% | — | $58,968 |
| 45 | Finger Lakes Community College Canandaigua, NYPublicAssociate's | 9 | 30% | — | — |
| 46 | Excelsior University Albany, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 9 | — | — | $67,558 |
| 47 | Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico - Recinto de Guayama Guayama, PRPublicAssociate's | 9 | 51% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Puerto Rico - Carolina Carolina, PRPublicAssociate's | 9 | 37% | — | — |
| 49 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 30% | — | — |
| 50 | Pioneer Technology Center Ponca City, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 7 | 73% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 15.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 26 states & territories
Where Instrumentation Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3028, Calibration Technologists and Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Instrumentation Technology/Technician program can pursue careers as Calibration Technologists and Technicians, with an annual growth rate of 4.7% and approximately 1,400 annual job openings. The median wage for this field is $65,040, and typically an Associate's degree is required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.0404
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Calibration Technologists and Techniciansprimary SOC 17-3028 | $67,820 | +4.7% About as fast as average | ~1,400 | Associate's degree |
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians SOC 17-3024 | $73,900 | +1.1% Little or no change | ~1,300 | Associate's degree |
Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other SOC 49-9069 | $68,990 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Instrumentation Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze test data to identify defects or determine calibration requirements.
- Attend conferences, workshops, or other training sessions to learn about new tools or methods.
- Calibrate devices by comparing measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, or other environmental conditions to known standards.
- Conduct calibration tests to determine performance or reliability of mechanical, structural, or electromechanical equipment.
- Develop new calibration methods or techniques based on measurement science, analyses, or calibration requirements.
- Disassemble and reassemble equipment for inspection.
Tools and technology used
Other Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.04).
- Electromechanical/CIP 15.0403
Electromechanical Engineering Technology/ Technician 3,069 graduates / yr130 institutions - Electromechanical Technologies/CIP 15.0499
Technicians 2,145 graduates / yr75 institutions - Automation Engineer Technology/CIP 15.0406
Technician 1,785 graduates / yr101 institutions - Biomedical Technology/CIP 15.0401
Technician 1,319 graduates / yr76 institutions - Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Technology/CIP 15.0407
Technician 997 graduates / yr56 institutions - Robotics Technology/CIP 15.0405
Technician 829 graduates / yr52 institutions
See all Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in calibration, testing, and maintenance of instrumentation and control systems.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Calibration Technologist, Electro-Mechanical Technician, or in other related fields.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.7% and 1,400 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Instrumentation Technology/Technician?+
Instrumentation Technology/Technician is CIP 15.0404 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers engaged in developing control and measurement systems and procedures. Includes instruction in instrumentation design and maintenance, calibration, design and production testing and scheduling, automated equipment functions, applications to specific industrial tasks, and report preparation.
How many institutions offer Instrumentation Technology/Technician programs?+
78 U.S. institutions reported Instrumentation Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 26 states & territories, awarding 3,068 credentials in the year. That is 23.2% of all Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Instrumentation Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Calibration Technologists and Technicians occupation, which Instrumentation Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $67,820 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $58,623 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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