17 Series · SOC 17-3028
Calibration Technologists and Technicians Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $67,820
- Median / year
- $106,550
- Top 10% earn
- +4.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 16,540
- US workers
Calibration Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $67,820 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $67,820, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,680 (10th percentile) to $106,550 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 16,540 US workers. Washington pays the most ($93,880), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Calibration Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $67,820, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 59% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #30 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.7% by 2033.
- $67,820
- Median annual wage
- Top 41%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #30 of 36
- in Architecture and Engineering
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $93,880. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Calibration Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3028) pays a national median of $67,820 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $46,680 at the 10th percentile to $106,550 at the 90th, with a mean of $74,170 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 16,540 Americans work in this occupation across 37 reporting states and 82 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $93,880, which is +38% above the national figure. The top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $107,220 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$67,820
per year
Median Hourly
$32.61/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$74,170
average
Employment
16,540
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Calibration Technologists and Technicians pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$67,820 Top 41% higher than 59% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Calibration Technologists and Technicians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Calibration Technologists and Technicians sits on the slower-growing side at +4.7% growth and $67,820 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.7%
About average
Annual Openings
1,400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
2/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Calibration Technologists and Technicians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Draw plans for developing jigs, fixtures, instruments, or other devices.
- ▸ Maintain or repair measurement devices or equipment used for calibration testing.
- ▸ Operate metalworking machines to fabricate housings, jigs, fittings, or fixtures.
- ▸ Order replacement parts for malfunctioning equipment.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$46,680
25th Percentile
$56,380
Median
$67,820
75th Percentile
$92,080
90th Percentile
$106,550
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 37 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $93,880 | +38% above national |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $80,920 | +19% above national |
| 3 | Louisiana | $80,670 | +19% above national |
| 4 | California | $79,010 | +16% above national |
| 5 | Vermont | $77,950 | +15% above national |
| 6 | New Jersey | $77,040 | +14% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $75,500 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Texas | $74,100 | +9% above national |
| 9 | Virginia | $72,730 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Tennessee | $71,660 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Michigan | $70,140 | +3% above national |
| 12 | Arizona | $69,230 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Oregon | $68,830 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Utah | $67,300 | 1% below national |
| 15 | South Carolina | $66,910 | 1% below national |
| 16 | Georgia | $66,730 | 2% below national |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $66,650 | 2% below national |
| 18 | New Mexico | $65,650 | 3% below national |
| 19 | Ohio | $65,520 | 3% below national |
| 20 | Nevada | $64,530 | 5% below national |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $64,390 | 5% below national |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $63,700 | 6% below national |
| 23 | Colorado | $63,660 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Nebraska | $63,530 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Connecticut | $63,420 | 6% below national |
| 26 | Indiana | $61,930 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Missouri | $61,510 | 9% below national |
| 28 | Iowa | $61,490 | 9% below national |
| 29 | New York | $61,270 | 10% below national |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $61,060 | 10% below national |
| 31 | North Carolina | $61,000 | 10% below national |
| 32 | Maryland | $60,860 | 10% below national |
| 33 | Minnesota | $60,360 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Florida | $59,770 | 12% below national |
| 35 | Illinois | $59,590 | 12% below national |
| 36 | Kentucky | $55,650 | 18% below national |
| 37 | Puerto Rico | $38,460 | 43% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 82 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $107,220 | +58% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $101,840 | +50% above national |
| 3 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $99,880 | +47% above national |
| 4 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $99,700 | +47% above national |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,660 | +47% above national |
| 6 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $99,400 | +47% above national |
| 7 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $95,180 | +40% above national |
| 8 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $94,780 | +40% above national |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $86,280 | +27% above national |
| 10 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $85,180 | +26% above national |
| 11 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $83,500 | +23% above national |
| 12 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $82,100 | +21% above national |
| 13 | Baton Rouge, LA | $80,670 | +19% above national |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $79,950 | +18% above national |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $79,040 | +17% above national |
| 16 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $78,610 | +16% above national |
| 17 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $77,470 | +14% above national |
| 18 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,410 | +14% above national |
| 19 | Corpus Christi, TX | $77,380 | +14% above national |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $75,720 | +12% above national |
| 21 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,600 | +11% above national |
| 22 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $75,450 | +11% above national |
| 23 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $75,440 | +11% above national |
| 24 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $75,080 | +11% above national |
| 25 | Boulder, CO | $73,100 | +8% above national |
| 26 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,950 | +6% above national |
| 27 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $71,640 | +6% above national |
| 28 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,570 | +6% above national |
| 29 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $69,110 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $68,830 | +1% above national |
| 31 | Odessa, TX | $68,630 | +1% above national |
| 32 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $67,750 | same as national |
| 33 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $67,310 | 1% below national |
| 34 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $67,010 | 1% below national |
| 35 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $66,230 | 2% below national |
| 36 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,800 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $65,680 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Cleveland, OH | $65,390 | 4% below national |
| 39 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $65,130 | 4% below national |
| 40 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $64,800 | 4% below national |
| 41 | Tucson, AZ | $64,430 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $64,390 | 5% below national |
| 43 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,220 | 5% below national |
| 44 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $64,150 | 5% below national |
| 45 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $63,660 | 6% below national |
| 46 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $63,420 | 6% below national |
| 47 | Tulsa, OK | $63,100 | 7% below national |
| 48 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $62,930 | 7% below national |
| 49 | Syracuse, NY | $62,850 | 7% below national |
| 50 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $62,780 | 7% below national |
| 51 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,710 | 8% below national |
| 52 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $62,450 | 8% below national |
| 53 | Rochester, NY | $62,140 | 8% below national |
| 54 | Madison, WI | $62,000 | 9% below national |
| 55 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,990 | 9% below national |
| 56 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $61,720 | 9% below national |
| 57 | Oklahoma City, OK | $61,620 | 9% below national |
| 58 | Worcester, MA | $61,450 | 9% below national |
| 59 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $61,100 | 10% below national |
| 60 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,080 | 10% below national |
| 61 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $61,030 | 10% below national |
| 62 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $60,960 | 10% below national |
| 63 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $60,230 | 11% below national |
| 64 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,100 | 11% below national |
| 65 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $59,820 | 12% below national |
| 66 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,730 | 12% below national |
| 67 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,590 | 12% below national |
| 68 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $59,460 | 12% below national |
| 69 | Jacksonville, FL | $59,300 | 13% below national |
| 70 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,850 | 13% below national |
| 71 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $58,180 | 14% below national |
| 72 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,570 | 15% below national |
| 73 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $56,160 | 17% below national |
| 74 | El Paso, TX | $55,530 | 18% below national |
| 75 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $55,500 | 18% below national |
| 76 | Albuquerque, NM | $53,750 | 21% below national |
| 77 | Fort Wayne, IN | $51,310 | 24% below national |
| 78 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $48,150 | 29% below national |
| 79 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $38,490 | 43% below national |
| 80 | Ponce, PR | $37,260 | 45% below national |
| 81 | Midland, TX | $36,690 | 46% below national |
| 82 | Mayaguez, PR | $36,200 | 47% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Calibration Technologists and Technicians make? ▼
What state pays Calibration Technologists and Technicians the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Calibration Technologists and Technicians? ▼
How dangerous is being a Calibration Technologists and Technicians? ▼
Is Calibration Technologists and Technicians a good career? ▼
How does Calibration Technologists and Technicians pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Calibration Technologists and Technicians pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $92,080/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $93,880/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.