Career profile for Field Service Technician

What does a Field Service Technician do?

Field Service Technicians repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems, automated teller machines, and electronic office machines, such as duplicating and fax machines.

What kind of tasks does a Field Service Technician perform regularly?

Field Service Technicians are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Converse with customers to determine details of equipment problems.
Reassemble machines after making repairs or replacing parts.
Disassemble machines to examine parts, such as wires, gears, or bearings for wear or defects, using hand or power tools and measuring devices.
Advise customers concerning equipment operation, maintenance, or programming.
Align, adjust, or calibrate equipment according to specifications.
Repair, adjust, or replace electrical or mechanical components or parts, using hand tools, power tools, or soldering or welding equipment.
Travel to customers' stores or offices to service machines or to provide emergency repair service.
Maintain parts inventories and order any additional parts needed for repairs.
Operate machines to test functioning of parts or mechanisms.
Reinstall software programs or adjust settings on existing software to fix machine malfunctions.
Clean, oil, or adjust mechanical parts to maintain machines' operating efficiency and to prevent breakdowns.
Test new systems to ensure that they are in working order.
Maintain records of equipment maintenance work or repairs.
Complete repair bills, shop records, time cards, or expense reports.
Install and configure new equipment, including operating software or peripheral equipment.
Analyze equipment performance records to assess equipment functioning.
Read specifications, such as blueprints, charts, or schematics, to determine machine settings or adjustments.
Update existing equipment, performing tasks such as installing updated circuit boards or additional memory.
Test components or circuits of faulty equipment to locate defects, using oscilloscopes, signal generators, ammeters, voltmeters, or special diagnostic software programs.
Assemble machines according to specifications, using hand or power tools and measuring devices.
Lay cable and hook up electrical connections between machines, power sources, and phone lines.
Enter information into computers to copy programs from one electronic component to another or to draw, modify, or store schematics.
Fill machines with toners, inks, or other duplicating fluids.
Train new repairers.

The above responsibilities are specific to Field Service Technicians. More generally, Field Service Technicians are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment		Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems		Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with People Outside the Organization		Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Working with Computers		Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials		Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Working with Computers

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

What is a Field Service Technician salary?

The median salary for a Field Service Technician is $41,090, and the average salary is $43,790. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Field Service Technician salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Field Service Technicians earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Field Service Technicians earn less than $27,140 per year, 25% earn less than $32,730, 75% earn less than $52,230, and 90% earn less than $64,630.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Field Service Technicians is expected to change by -2.1%, and there should be roughly 10,500 open positions for Field Service Technicians every year.

Median annual salary: $41,090
Typical salary range: $27,140 - $64,630
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): -2.1%

What personality traits are common among Field Service Technicians?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Field Service Technician are usually higher in their Realistic, Conventional, and Investigative interests.

Field Service Technicians typically have very strong Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Also, Field Service Technicians typically have strong Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Lastly, Field Service Technicians typically have moderate Investigative interests. Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Field Service Technician tend to value Support, Independence, and Working Conditions.

Most importantly, Field Service Technicians moderately value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Second, Field Service Technicians moderately value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Lastly, Field Service Technicians moderately value Working Conditions. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Field Service Technicians must consistently demonstrate qualities such as attention to detail, analytical thinking, and independence.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Field Service Technicians, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Analytical Thinking		Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Independence		Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Persistence		Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Analytical Thinking

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Independence

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Persistence

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

What education and training do Field Service Technicians need?

Field Service Technicians often have training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Field Service Technicians usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Field Service Technicians

2.7% did not complete high school or secondary school
19.5% completed high school or secondary school
32.4% completed some college coursework
20.3% earned a Associate's degree
21.1% earned a Bachelor's degree
3.4% earned a Master's degree
0.6% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Field Service Technicians

Field Service Technicians may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as computers and electronics, customer and personal service, or mechanical knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Field Service Technicians might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Computers and Electronics		Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mechanical		Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Engineering and Technology		Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Education and Training		Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Important Abilities needed by Field Service Technicians

Field Service Technicians must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Field Service Technicians need abilities such as near vision, oral comprehension, and oral expression in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Field Service Technicians, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Near Vision		The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression		The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity		The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Written Comprehension		The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Critical Skills needed by Field Service Technicians

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Field Service Technicians frequently use skills like active listening, repairing, and critical thinking to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Field Service Technicians, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Active Listening		Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Repairing		Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Critical Thinking		Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving		Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Troubleshooting		Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Field Service Technician

Field Service Technician

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