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Field engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$47,810median pay per year, or $22.99 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,910lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,90025th percentile
  3. $47,810median
  4. $59,87075th percentile
  5. $71,730top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Computer, automated teller and office machine repairers had a median pay of $47,810 a year in May 2025[1]. Entry typically takes some college and short-term on-the-job training, and employment is projected to fall 3% from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3%[3]
Openings per year
6,100[6]
Typical entry education
Some college, no degree[2]

How much do field engineers make?

The official BLS category is Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers. O*NET lists Field Engineer among the job titles workers report[7]. In May 2025 the median wage was $47,810 a year, or $22.99 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $50,880 a year, or $24.46 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

The range looks like this:

Point Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $35,910
25th percentile[4] $38,900
Median[1] $47,810
75th percentile[4] $59,870
90th percentile[4] $71,730

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,910[4]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. Hourly wages ran from $17.26 at the 10th percentile to $34.49 at the 90th[10].

These wages cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. About 65,600 people held these jobs in May 2025[12]. In 2025, 8.6% of workers in this occupation were self-employed[13].

Pay by state and city

Connecticut had the highest median annual wage at $61,190[14]. New Hampshire ($60,570), South Dakota ($59,700), North Dakota ($58,720) and California ($58,280) followed[14].

California also had the most jobs at 7,250[15]. Texas (7,140), Florida (3,470), Illinois (3,260) and New York (3,240) came next[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT had the highest median at $63,410[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($61,340) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($60,780) came next[16]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 3,480[17].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Connecticut[14]$61,190380
New Hampshire$60,570260
South Dakota$59,700300
North Dakota$58,720160
California$58,2807,250
New Jersey$57,3302,190
New York$57,2903,240
Massachusetts$57,2701,350
Maryland$54,120960
Vermont$53,61080
Oklahoma$51,880780
Delaware$51,550250
Minnesota$50,5401,720
Louisiana$50,150900
Rhode Island$49,70070
Colorado$49,650880
Arizona$49,6201,000
Maine$49,610290
Hawaii$49,270110
Washington$49,0502,010
Montana$48,820160
Pennsylvania$47,9202,390
Ohio$47,7402,040
Wisconsin$47,6901,010
Michigan$47,5701,660
Wyoming$47,48070
Iowa$47,330420
Kentucky$47,0701,440
Oregon$46,9501,050
Nebraska$46,890640
North Carolina$46,8903,160
Alaska$46,680170
Indiana$46,1702,140
Arkansas$45,970560
Florida$45,6903,470
Texas$45,4807,140
Georgia$45,3902,330
Illinois$44,8603,260
Virginia$44,7501,530
Kansas$44,290570
Missouri$44,0801,090
New Mexico$43,330330
Mississippi$42,920490
Tennessee$42,3301,110
Utah$41,810570
Alabama$39,970930
Idaho$39,190180
South Carolina$39,060680
West Virginia$38,720370
Nevada$38,430410

How to become a field engineer

BLS lists some college without a degree as the typical entry education[2]. It lists no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training[2].

O*NET places the occupation in a group where jobs need very little to some preparation. Some need little or no experience, and others need several months to a year[18].

What field engineers do

O*NET describes the work as fixing, maintaining or setting up computers, automated teller machines, word processing systems and other electronic office equipment, such as fax machines[19]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as ATM Technician, Copier Technician and Field Service Technician[7].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 72,100 to 69,900 jobs[3]. That is a change of -2,100 jobs[3]. For all occupations, BLS projects growth of 3.5%[21]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

Even so, BLS expects about 6,100 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.3% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

Entry is open to people with some college and short-term on-the-job training[2]. The median pay of $47,810 is a little below the all-occupations median of $50,980, though the top 10% earned more than $71,730[1][5][4]. Employment is projected to fall 3%, but about 6,100 openings a year are still expected[3][6]. The work is hands-on repair and travel to customers[20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a field engineer make an hour?
For Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers, the median was $22.99 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $24.46[1][8].
What education do you need to be a field engineer?
BLS lists some college, no degree as the typical entry education[2].
Is field engineering in demand?
BLS projects a 3% decline from 2025 to 2035, but about 6,100 openings a year[3][6].
What is the highest paying state for field engineers?
Connecticut, with a median of $61,190 a year in May 2025[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers in the US was $47,810 per year and $22.99 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers: education needed for entry: Some college, no degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers is projected to decline 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 72,100 to 69,900 jobs (a change of -2,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers: 10th percentile $35,910, 25th percentile $38,900, 75th percentile $59,870, 90th percentile $71,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,100 openings for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 49-2011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: ATM Technician (Automated Teller Machine Technician), Computer Repair Technician (Computer Repair Tech), Copier Technician (Copier Tech), Customer Service Engineer, Field Engineer, Field Service Engineer, Field Service Technician (Field Service Tech), Field Technician (Field Tech). O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers was $50,880 per year and $24.46 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers: 10th percentile $17.26, 25th percentile $18.70, 75th percentile $28.78, 90th percentile $34.49. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 65,600 people were employed as Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 8.6% of Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers jobs: California 7,250; Texas 7,140; Florida 3,470; Illinois 3,260; New York 3,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $63,410; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $61,340; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,780; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $59,530; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $59,480; Sioux Falls, SD-MN $59,180; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,080; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $59,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,480 (median $59,530); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,650 (median $46,560); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,610 (median $61,340); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,590 (median $45,710); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,490 (median $49,470); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,440 (median $45,980). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. O*NET 49-2011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers: 3.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.