Instrumentation Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Instrumentation Technology equips professionals with the technical expertise to support engineering teams in designing, implementing, and maintaining precision control and measurement systems across industrial environments. This program emphasizes practical application, focusing on the integration of sensors, signal processing, and automated systems to ensure operational accuracy and efficiency.
- Instrumentation Design and Maintenance: Covers the principles of creating and sustaining measurement and control systems, including component selection, system integration, and troubleshooting protocols.
- Calibration Techniques: Focuses on the precise adjustment and verification of instruments to ensure data accuracy and compliance with industry standards.
- Design and Production Testing: Involves planning, executing, and documenting tests to validate system performance under real-world operational conditions.
- Scheduling and System Integration: Teaches methodologies for coordinating instrument deployment and ensuring seamless interaction with broader manufacturing or process control systems.
- Automated Equipment Functionality: Explores the operation, monitoring, and optimization of automated machinery and control loops used in industrial automation.
- Industry-Specific Applications: Applies instrumentation principles to real-world scenarios in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment.
- Technical Report Preparation: Develops skills in documenting system performance, test results, maintenance logs, and engineering recommendations with clarity and precision.
Instrumentation Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Instrumentation Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Instrumentation Technology degrees, including Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians, Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other and Calibration Technologists and Technicians. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 39,680 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians 17-3024 | $70,760 | $47,770 - $109,580 | 14,680 | $34.02 |
| Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other 49-9069 | $67,080 | $44,530 - $100,730 | 9,680 | $32.25 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians 17-3028 | $65,040 | $44,730 - $105,440 | 15,320 | $31.27 |
Instrumentation Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,480 in Indiana to $95,080 in Alaska—a 78% difference. The highest-paying states include Alaska, Washington, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 39,680 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Instrumentation Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 74 institutions offering Instrumentation Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Instrumentation Technology is found at SOWELA Technical Community College (373 graduates), Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) (341 graduates), River Parishes Community College (RPCC) (241 graduates), Lee College (167 graduates), and San Jacinto Community College (123 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,697 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOWELA Technical Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
373 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | sowela.edu |
| Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
341 | Minden, Louisiana | Public | nltcc.edu |
| River Parishes Community College (RPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
241 | Gonzales, Louisiana | Public | rpcc.edu |
| Lee College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
167 | Baytown, Texas | Public | lee.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
123 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Brazosport College (BC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
83 | Lake Jackson, Texas | Public | brazosport.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
81 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
77 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
75 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ladelta.edu |
| Nunez Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
74 | Chalmette, Louisiana | Public | nunez.edu |
| Lamar State College (LSCO) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Orange, Texas | Public | lsco.edu |
| Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
60 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lit.edu |
| San Juan College (SJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
58 | Farmington, New Mexico | Public | sanjuancollege.edu |
| Perry Technical Institute (Perry Tech) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
56 | Yakima, Washington | Private | perrytech.edu |
| Texas State Technical College (TSTC) |
Associate's
|
50 | Waco, Texas | Public | tstc.edu |
| Ranken Technical College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
49 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | ranken.edu |
| ITI Technical College (ITI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
46 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Private | iticollege.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
45 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Frank Phillips College (FPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | Borger, Texas | Public | fpctx.edu |
| Galveston College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Galveston, Texas | Public | gc.edu |
| Ridgewater College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
33 | Willmar, Minnesota | Public | ridgewater.edu |
| Great Basin College (GBC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
30 | Elko, Nevada | Public | gbcnv.edu |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Okmulgee, Oklahoma | Public | osuit.edu |
| Bismarck State College (BSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Public | bismarckstate.edu |
| Lamar State College (LSCPA) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Port Arthur, Texas | Public | lamarpa.edu |
| Bishop State Community College (BSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | bishop.edu |
| Excelsior University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
22 | Albany, New York | Private | excelsior.edu |
| Wharton County Junior College (WCJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Wharton, Texas | Public | wcjc.edu |
| Big Bend Technical College (BBTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
21 | Perry, Florida | Public | bbtc.edu |
| Francis Tuttle Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
19 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | francistuttle.edu |
| Kilgore College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Kilgore, Texas | Public | kilgore.edu |
| Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Godfrey, Illinois | Public | lc.edu |
| Palo Alto College (PAC) |
Other Award
|
16 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Panola College |
Associate's
|
15 | Carthage, Texas | Public | panola.edu |
| Bellingham Technical College (BTC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | btc.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Associate's
|
12 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
12 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Remington College |
Associate's
|
12 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Canandaigua, New York | Public | flcc.edu |
| Manatee Technical College (MTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Bradenton, Florida | Public | manateetech.edu |
| Washington State Community College (WSCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Marietta, Ohio | Public | wscc.edu |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico (ITPR) |
Associate's
|
10 | Guayama, Puerto Rico | Public | de.gov |
| West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Waco, Georgia | Public | westgatech.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico |
Associate's
|
9 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Public | itec.pr |
| Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Ponca City, Oklahoma | Public | pioneertech.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| Modesto Junior College (MJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
7 | Modesto, California | Public | mjc.edu |
| Mid-State Technical College (Mid-State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin | Public | mstc.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Public | uprc.edu |
| Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico (ITPR) |
Associate's
|
5 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | instituto-tecnologico-de-puerto-rico-1.jimdosite.com |
| Bevill State Community College (BSCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Jasper, Alabama | Public | bscc.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAA) |
Associate's
|
4 | Anchorage, Alaska | Public | uaa.alaska.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRB) |
Associate's
|
4 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Public | uprb.edu |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | sctcc.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Delhi) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Delhi, New York | Public | delhi.edu |
| Columbus State Community College (CSCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | cscc.edu |
| Butler County Community College (BC3) |
Associate's
|
3 | Butler, Pennsylvania | Public | bc3.edu |
| Lemoore College |
Associate's
|
3 | Lemoore, California | Public | westhillscollege.com |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
2 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Oakland Community College (OCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | Public | oaklandcc.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Other Award
|
2 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Remington College |
Associate's
|
2 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | remingtoncollege.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Fairbanks, Alaska | Public | uaf.edu |
| Delaware Technical Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | Dover, Delaware | Public | dtcc.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Other Award
|
1 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Palos Hills, Illinois | Public | morainevalley.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Lakeland Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Kirtland, Ohio | Public | lakelandcc.edu |
| Yakima Valley College (YVC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Yakima, Washington | Public | yvcc.edu |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College (BVCTC) |
Associate's
|
1 | South Charleston, West Virginia | Public | bridgevalley.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Instrumentation Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Instrumentation Technology degree?
Salaries for Instrumentation Technology graduates vary by role and location. Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians earn a median of $70,760 annually, while Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other earn around $67,080. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Alaska average $95,080 compared to $53,480 in Indiana. Approximately 39,680 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Instrumentation Technology programs?
Currently 74 accredited institutions offer Instrumentation Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include SOWELA Technical Community College (373 graduates), Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC) (341 graduates), and River Parishes Community College (RPCC) (241 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Instrumentation Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,316 in 2010 to a peak of 2,845 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,697 in 2023-24. This represents a 105% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Instrumentation Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians, Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other, and Calibration Technologists and Technicians. Related occupations employ approximately 39,680 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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