Fluke Calibration sponsored and created the 2017 survey. Invitations were circulated via email and on social media. The survey included 17 questions about respondents’ geographic location; type of organization, industry, and lab; gender; job title; education and years of experience; salary; and workload. Salary estimates listed below are based on median values by volume of pay ranges selected.
934 participants completed the survey across the globe. A little more than a third (35 %) of respondents work in an Industrial or Field Test Laboratory. The next largest group (29 %) work in a Manufacturer Metrology/Test Group or Lab, closely followed (23 %) by those who work in an Other Laboratory or Professional Metrology Group. Small percentages work in a National Metrology Institute (6 %) or Primary Standards Lab (8 %).
More than half reported holding a bachelor’s (50 %) or master’s (15 %) degree and 2 % earning a PhD. The remaining 33 % hold a high school diploma. Most respondents were male.
Our sample of respondents included 94 % male and 6 % female. Almost a third (32 %) of the respondents claim a Calibration Technician job role. Metrologist made up 18 % of the respondents, followed by Calibration Engineers at 17 %.
Most respondents in our survey live in North America, with select representation from Asia, Europe and some Middle East/Africa. So few respondents came from Latin America we were unable to break out data by that region.
Average salaries by region were similar across all reportable regions, with slightly higher pay reported in North America.
Though salaries were similar across many regions, it appears to pay to live on the coast. New England and Pacific states trended +17 % and +14 % above average, respectively. All estimated average salaries are USD/yr.
Median ranges were similar across lab types, with only slight indications of benefit observed in Commercial and Government labs.
Job role | Average range reported | Estimated average salary (USD/yr) |
---|---|---|
Calibration engineer | $80,001 – $95,000 | $85,473 |
Calibration technician | $50,000 – $65,000 | $63,696 |
Department manager | $80,001 – $95,000 | $87,231 |
Engineer other | $80,001 – $95,000 | $90,932 |
Executive management | $125,001 – $140,000 | $129,500 |
Metrologist | $65,001 – $80,000 | $74,722 |
Other not listed | $65,001 – $80,000 | $72,500 |
Professor | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
Researcher | $80,001 – $95,000 | $90,500 |
Sales/Marketing | $80,001 – $95,000 | $81,550 |
Student | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
On request, next year we will include Associate Degree as an answer category for this question.
Predictably, the more years’ service in calibration/metrology the higher compensation we see.
Average range reported was $65,001 – $80,000.
One clue to the apparent disparity in pay between the genders can be seen in the range of years in service. Women in our sample tended to be newer to the industry,with most reporting 0-5 years of service. Men were clearly established, with many reporting over 25 years of service. That said, even amongst the 0-5 years of service groups there appears to be some level of disparity in pay; with men averaging higher pay in every category.
Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000
Estimated average salary
$75,459
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$56,429
Measurable impact to salary from completing the Calibration Technician Certificate program was not detected in this sample.
Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000
Estimated average salary
$73,343
Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000
Estimated average salary
$74,415
Average range reported
$85,001 – $95,000
Process industries
(not oil and gas)
$85,000
Electrical power generation,
transportation and distribution
$82,845
Pharmaceutical
$81,810
Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000
Oil and gas
$58,438
Independent testing labs
$67,115
Other manufacturing
$70,565
Most respondents reported workloads are heavy but not excessive.
Median pay ranges were similar across all categories, with indication there may be some financial benefit to working in commercial or private labs.
Job role | Average range reported | Estimated average salary (USD/yr) |
---|---|---|
Calibration engineer | $50,000 – $65,001 | $54,298 |
Calibration technician | $50,000 – $65,001 | $52,045 |
Department manager | $50,000 – $65,001 | $57,500 |
Engineer other | $50,000 – $65,001 | $54,773 |
Executive management | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
Metrologist | $50,000 – $65,001 | $55,455 |
Other not listed | $50,000 – $65,001 | $65,000 |
Professor | $65,001 – $80,000 | $72,500 |
Researcher | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
Sales/Marketing | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
Student | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
On request, next year we will include Associate Degree as an answer category for this question.
We did see indication of higher pay for longer years in service in this region; by removing an outlier in the “16 – 25 years” category, average salary for that range in our sample was $59,808.
Average range reported was $50,000 – $65,000.
Looks may be deceiving. Overall pay disparity between genders appears to be low in our European sample, with only 3 % difference in estimated average salaries between women and men. However, outlier pay for female Executive Management is at play in these numbers. Females in our sample scored lower than males (between 20 % and 28 % less) in every other reported job title for this region.
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$56,777
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$55,357
Measurable impact to salary from completing the Calibration Technician Certificate program was not detected in this sample.
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$58,054
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$56,220
Oil and Gas
Average range $80,001–$95,000
$82,667
Research and Development
Average range $65,001–$80,000
$67,500
Process Industries (not oil and gas)
Average range $50,000–$65,000
$65,000
Average range reported
Less than $50,000
Aerospace
$45,833
Government DOD/DOE
$67,115
Automotive
$46,250
Distributors/Procurement
Most respondents reported workloads are heavy but not excessive.
Median pay ranges were similar across all categories, with indication there may be some financial benefit to working in government or commercial labs.
Job role | Average range reported | Estimated average salary (USD/yr) |
---|---|---|
Calibration engineer | $50,000 – $65,000 | $55,081 |
Calibration technician | Less than $50,000 | $49,318 |
Department manager | Less than $50,000 | $48,500 |
Engineer other | $80,001 – $95,000 | $82,500 |
Executive management | $65,001 – $80,000 | $65,000 |
Metrologist | $65,001 – $80,000 | $69,038 |
Other not listed | $50,000 – $65,000 | $59,643 |
Professor | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
Researcher | $65,001 – $80,000 | $72,500 |
Sales/Marketing | $50,000 – $65,000 | $61,786 |
Student | Sample size too small | Sample size too small |
On request, next year we will include Associates Degree as an answer category for this question. This sample indicated significant financial benefit to holding a Master’s Degree. The job title with the most Master’s Degree holders in this sample was Calibration Engineer.
Predictably, the more years’ service in calibration/metrology the higher compensation we see.
Fewer respondents indicated their labs handled more than 10,000 calibrations per year than any other category. Most indicated 5,000 or less calibrations per year, regardless of job title.
Clues to differences in pay between genders were not prominent in our data due to limited sizes of the female sample.
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$59,559
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$50,000
Certification in a calibration program or similar professional licensing appears to have slight positive impact on pay in this region/sample.
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$61,167
Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000
Estimated average salary
$57,734
Process industries (not oil and gas)
Average range $110,001–$125,000
$117,500
Communications Equipment
Average range $65,001–$80,000
$77,500
Government DOD/DOE
Average range $65,001–$80,000
$75,000
Average range reported
Less than $50,000
Automotive
$42,500
Other Manufacturing
$42,500
Semiconductors
$42,500
Most respondents reported workloads are heavy but not excessive.