What Does an Electronics Technician Do?
Schematics and a soldering iron are the everyday tools of an electronics technician, whose job is to find the failed part and fix it. Most repairs happen at the bench, where technicians replace parts and calibrate instruments, but service calls also take them to research labs, broadcast studios and production lines. Senior grades lead other technicians.
Also known as: Electronics Maintenance Engineer
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Communications Technologist, Electrical Engineering Technician, Electrical Technician, Electronics Engineering Technician, Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech), Engineering Technologist, System Technologist, Technologist.
Electronics Technician Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an electronics technician include:
- Diagnose faulty equipment using schematics, multimeters and oscilloscopes.
- Replace failed boards and components, including surface-mount parts, with careful soldering.
- Calibrate lab and test instruments on schedule and keep calibration records.
- Install and maintain audio-visual, security or control systems in campus buildings.
- Build prototype circuits and test fixtures from engineers' drawings.
- Perform preventive maintenance on power supplies, amplifiers and scientific equipment.
- Order parts, track inventory and log each repair in the work order system.
- Test repaired units against manufacturer specifications before returning them to service.
- Respond to urgent service calls when research or teaching equipment fails.
- Train junior technicians and equipment users on safe operation and basic care.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an electronics technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Soldering, including surface-mount rework
- Reading schematics and wiring diagrams
- Test equipment: multimeters, oscilloscopes and signal generators
- Electrical safety and lockout practices
- Certified Electronics Technician (CET) credential, a plus
- Logical, step-by-step troubleshooting
- Basic programming for microcontrollers
- Clear repair notes
Education and Training
Electronics technology programs at community colleges, which lead to an associate degree, train most new technicians. Others learn electronics in the military or move up from installer jobs. Some employers ask for certification as well. Senior technician, shop supervisor and field service engineer posts open up with experience.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $61,610 - $97,650 per year, with a median of $78,190.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians.
BLS projects employment of electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians to grow about 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. Openings should total roughly 8,100 a year. Bear in mind that you are more likely to stay busy if you can repair equipment that costs too much to replace.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians.
Electronics Technician Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $49,510 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $61,610 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $78,190 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $97,650 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $115,700 |
Highest-Paying States for Electronics Technicians
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Wyoming ($99,840), Rhode Island ($98,600), District of Columbia ($97,620), Hawaii ($96,200), New Mexico ($96,070). Pay is lowest in Tennessee ($63,750), Ohio ($63,300), South Dakota ($58,340).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,500 |
| Alaska | $92,760 |
| Arizona | $77,960 |
| Arkansas | $69,960 |
| California | $86,090 |
| Colorado | $77,440 |
| Connecticut | $81,390 |
| Delaware | $67,360 |
| District of Columbia | $97,620 |
| Florida | $73,190 |
| Georgia | $78,070 |
| Hawaii | $96,200 |
| Idaho | $77,170 |
| Illinois | $85,510 |
| Indiana | $70,540 |
| Iowa | $74,840 |
| Kansas | $70,310 |
| Kentucky | $64,120 |
| Louisiana | $82,990 |
| Maine | $83,440 |
| Maryland | $95,830 |
| Massachusetts | $77,710 |
| Michigan | $74,800 |
| Minnesota | $78,280 |
| Mississippi | $81,180 |
| Missouri | $72,120 |
| Montana | $82,050 |
| Nebraska | $65,490 |
| Nevada | $88,160 |
| New Hampshire | $74,560 |
| New Jersey | $85,510 |
| New Mexico | $96,070 |
| New York | $77,040 |
| North Carolina | $76,040 |
| North Dakota | $80,930 |
| Ohio | $63,300 |
| Oklahoma | $80,880 |
| Oregon | $77,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,070 |
| Rhode Island | $98,600 |
| South Carolina | $73,450 |
| South Dakota | $58,340 |
| Tennessee | $63,750 |
| Texas | $74,050 |
| Utah | $72,670 |
| Vermont | $74,760 |
| Virginia | $79,540 |
| Washington | $93,930 |
| West Virginia | $85,440 |
| Wisconsin | $71,880 |
| Wyoming | $99,840 |
Tools and Software Electronics Technicians Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as analyzing problems and working with ideas.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Complex Problem Solving.
Knowledge areas used most: Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Design, Mathematics.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 17-3023.00 (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.