by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Instrumentation Technology covers 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. 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. Examples: [Industrial Instrument Mechanic], [Instrumentation And Control Technician]. Read on to learn the important information every instrumentation technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering instrumentation technology programs.
Nationwide, instrumentation technology is a widely-pursued major, with 2,697 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Instrumentation Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 74 schools to determine the best overall colleges for instrumentation technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of instrumentation technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Instrumentation Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations instrumentation technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a instrumentation technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a instrumentation technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several instrumentation technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 835 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,003 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 33 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 768 |
People currently working in careers related to instrumentation technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 31.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 30.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Master’s degree | 5.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in instrumentation technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in instrumentation technology opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to instrumentation technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to instrumentation technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other | 437,144 | -3.9% |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | 376,668 | -2.8% |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | 64,481 | 14.3% |
| Robotics Technicians | 45,207 | 12.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of instrumentation technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,527 |
| 4 years | $62,211 |
| 5 years | $69,356 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for instrumentation technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers instrumentation technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $134,632 |
| Robotics Technicians | $131,252 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $92,586 |
| Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other | $42,241 |
With 74 different instrumentation technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased instrumentation technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in instrumentation technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
