Instrumentation Technician
I-01I Other Industrial controls jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 49-9012.00
- this level, from
City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025 - $27.41/h
- work over
40 h a week - 39%
- load index
from O*NET data - 3.2/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +9.4%
Pay
This level's pay (published records that name this rung)
Public employer pay plan City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025
$27.41-$33.30/h (entry rate to midpoint), Instrumentation & Control Technician I, Austin, TX, effective 2025-06-15 Source
About $57,013 a year at 2,080 h (40 h x 52 weeks, no overtime).
Pay range for that public employer's own classified jobs; not private-sector pay.
$21.59-$59.93/h, lowest to highest figure in 6 current record(s) from 2 document(s). Minimum rates and pay ranges from different documents and areas; not a distribution.
All pay records and context (6)
- City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025: $27.41 to $33.30/h, Instrumentation & Control Technician I, Austin, TX, effective 2025-06-15 source
- City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025: $30.70 to $38.37/h, Instrumentation & Control Technician II, Austin, TX, effective 2025-06-15 source
- City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025: $33.49 to $42.71/h, Instrumentation & Control Technician III, Austin, TX, effective 2025-06-15 source
- Texas A&M System (system-wide pay plan) pay range, 2023: $21.59 to $44.11/h, Utilities Instrumentation Technician, Texas (A&M System members; the System Level structure is the Texas/US median level, local and major-market structures are -5% / +5%), effective 2023-09-01 older source
- Texas A&M System (system-wide pay plan) pay range, 2023: $26.64 to $54.43/h, Senior Utilities Instrumentation Technician, Texas (A&M System members; the System Level structure is the Texas/US median level, local and major-market structures are -5% / +5%), effective 2023-09-01 older source
- Texas A&M System (system-wide pay plan) pay range, 2023: $29.33 to $59.93/h, Master Utilities Instrumentation Technician, Texas (A&M System members; the System Level structure is the Texas/US median level, local and major-market structures are -5% / +5%), effective 2023-09-01 older source
Whole occupation: all Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000049901213 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 11,630 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000049901201).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000049901213 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 11,630 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000049901201).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +9.4% jobs · about 780 openings a year (8,360 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +1.3% jobs · about 3,900 openings a year (47,700 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 07/2017, n = 33 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 07/2017, n = 33 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 76% · irregular 21% · seasonal 3%
Physical load 3.2 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.79, 6 measures) and an exposure index (3.67, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.79, 6 measures) and an exposure index (3.67, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing3.38
- Bending or twisting3.27
- Kneeling or crawling2.93
- Walking or running2.84
- Keeping balance2.21
- Climbing ladders2.08
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather4.62
- Very hot or cold3.99
- Hazardous conditions3.97
- Hazardous equipment3.88
- Cramped space3.65
- Protective gear2.93
- High places2.68
Getting in
- License
- Texas: power wiring needs a TDLR electrician license unless exempt: plant employees in petrochemical and oil and gas (1305.003(a)(14)), low-voltage controls (a)(12), in-house maintenance (a)(8).
- Degree
- 1% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Experience
- Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years of related experience is the most common answer (28% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 3 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 8
- E2 Substation Technician O*NET lists Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89. License: depends on the work.
- R Stationary Engineer O*NET lists Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.88. License gate: not checked yet.
- R Electric Motor Repairer O*NET lists Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.85.
- R Industrial Machinery Mechanic O*NET lists Industrial Machinery Mechanics as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.85.
What the work is 3 core tasks
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
- Record maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made.
- Disassemble and repair mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches.
- Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Critical Thinking
- Repairing
- Active Listening
- Equipment Maintenance
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
Sources (5)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000049901213, read 2026-10-03
- Public employer pay plan: City of Austin: Job Titles, Descriptions and Pay Scales, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 49-9012.00 Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
