Fluke Calibration

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Calibration and Metrology
Compensation Survey2017 Results

Survey methodology

Fluke Calibration sponsored and created the 2017 survey. Invitations were circulated via email and on social media. The survey included 17 questions about respondents’ geographic location; type of organization, industry, and lab; gender; job title; education and years of experience; salary; and workload. Salary estimates listed below are based on median values by volume of pay ranges selected.

Who took the survey?

934 participants completed the survey across the globe. A little more than a third (35 %) of respondents work in an Industrial or Field Test Laboratory. The next largest group (29 %) work in a Manufacturer Metrology/Test Group or Lab, closely followed (23 %) by those who work in an Other Laboratory or Professional Metrology Group. Small percentages work in a National Metrology Institute (6 %) or Primary Standards Lab (8 %).

More than half reported holding a bachelor’s (50 %) or master’s (15 %) degree and 2 % earning a PhD. The remaining 33 % hold a high school diploma. Most respondents were male.

Our sample of respondents included 94 % male and 6 % female. Almost a third (32 %) of the respondents claim a Calibration Technician job role. Metrologist made up 18 % of the respondents, followed by Calibration Engineers at 17 %.

Geography

Most respondents in our survey live in North America, with select representation from Asia, Europe and some Middle East/Africa. So few respondents came from Latin America we were unable to break out data by that region.

Average salaries by top-level geography

Average salaries by region were similar across all reportable regions, with slightly higher pay reported in North America.

Respondents by geography pie chart
Average salary randy bar chart

Survey results by region

North America

Average salaries by region

Though salaries were similar across many regions, it appears to pay to live on the coast. New England and Pacific states trended +17 % and +14 % above average, respectively. All estimated average salaries are USD/yr.

Average salary by region in North America map

Lab types

Median ranges were similar across lab types, with only slight indications of benefit observed in Commercial and Government labs.

Salary charge by range

Job roles

Job role Average range reported Estimated average salary (USD/yr)
Calibration engineer $80,001 – $95,000 $85,473
Calibration technician $50,000 – $65,000 $63,696
Department manager $80,001 – $95,000 $87,231
Engineer other $80,001 – $95,000 $90,932
Executive management $125,001 – $140,000 $129,500
Metrologist $65,001 – $80,000 $74,722
Other not listed $65,001 – $80,000 $72,500
Professor Sample size too small Sample size too small
Researcher $80,001 – $95,000 $90,500
Sales/Marketing $80,001 – $95,000 $81,550
Student Sample size too small Sample size too small

Educational background

On request, next year we will include Associate Degree as an answer category for this question.

Estimated average salary chart

Years in metrology

Predictably, the more years’ service in calibration/metrology the higher compensation we see.

Years in metrology bar graph

Calibration volume

Average range reported was $65,001 – $80,000.

Number of calibrations per year chart

Gender

One clue to the apparent disparity in pay between the genders can be seen in the range of years in service. Women in our sample tended to be newer to the industry,with most reporting 0-5 years of service. Men were clearly established, with many reporting over 25 years of service. That said, even amongst the 0-5 years of service groups there appears to be some level of disparity in pay; with men averaging higher pay in every category.

Male icon

Male

Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000

Estimated average salary
$75,459


woman icon

Female

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$56,429


Certification

Measurable impact to salary from completing the Calibration Technician Certificate program was not detected in this sample.

Yes checkbox

Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000

Estimated average salary
$73,343

No checkbox

Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000

Estimated average salary
$74,415


Highest paid industries

Average range reported
$85,001 – $95,000

Process industries
(not oil and gas)
$85,000

Electrical power generation,
transportation and distribution
$82,845

Pharmaceutical
$81,810

Lowest paid industries

Average range reported
$65,001 – $80,000

Oil and gas
$58,438

Independent testing labs
$67,115

Other manufacturing
$70,565


Workload

Most respondents reported workloads are heavy but not excessive.

Stack table of workload percentage

Europe

Lab types

Median pay ranges were similar across all categories, with indication there may be some financial benefit to working in commercial or private labs.

Salary charge by range

Job roles

Job role Average range reported Estimated average salary (USD/yr)
Calibration engineer $50,000 – $65,001 $54,298
Calibration technician $50,000 – $65,001 $52,045
Department manager $50,000 – $65,001 $57,500
Engineer other $50,000 – $65,001 $54,773
Executive management Sample size too small Sample size too small
Metrologist $50,000 – $65,001 $55,455
Other not listed $50,000 – $65,001 $65,000
Professor $65,001 – $80,000 $72,500
Researcher Sample size too small Sample size too small
Sales/Marketing Sample size too small Sample size too small
Student Sample size too small Sample size too small

Educational background

On request, next year we will include Associate Degree as an answer category for this question.

Estimated average salary chart

Years in metrology

We did see indication of higher pay for longer years in service in this region; by removing an outlier in the “16 – 25 years” category, average salary for that range in our sample was $59,808.

Years in metrology bar graph

Calibration volume

Average range reported was $50,000 – $65,000.

Number of calibrations per year chart

Gender

Looks may be deceiving. Overall pay disparity between genders appears to be low in our European sample, with only 3 % difference in estimated average salaries between women and men. However, outlier pay for female Executive Management is at play in these numbers. Females in our sample scored lower than males (between 20 % and 28 % less) in every other reported job title for this region.

Male icon

Male

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$56,777


woman icon

Female

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$55,357


Certification

Measurable impact to salary from completing the Calibration Technician Certificate program was not detected in this sample.

Yes checkbox

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$58,054

No checkbox

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$56,220


Highest paid industries



Oil and Gas
Average range $80,001–$95,000
$82,667

Research and Development
Average range $65,001–$80,000
$67,500

Process Industries (not oil and gas)
Average range $50,000–$65,000
$65,000

Lowest paid industries

Average range reported
Less than $50,000

Aerospace
$45,833

Government DOD/DOE
$67,115

Automotive
$46,250
Distributors/Procurement


Workload

Most respondents reported workloads are heavy but not excessive.

Stack table of workload percentage

Asia

Lab types

Median pay ranges were similar across all categories, with indication there may be some financial benefit to working in government or commercial labs.

Salary charge by range

Job roles

Job role Average range reported Estimated average salary (USD/yr)
Calibration engineer $50,000 – $65,000 $55,081
Calibration technician Less than $50,000 $49,318
Department manager Less than $50,000 $48,500
Engineer other $80,001 – $95,000 $82,500
Executive management $65,001 – $80,000 $65,000
Metrologist $65,001 – $80,000 $69,038
Other not listed $50,000 – $65,000 $59,643
Professor Sample size too small Sample size too small
Researcher $65,001 – $80,000 $72,500
Sales/Marketing $50,000 – $65,000 $61,786
Student Sample size too small Sample size too small

Educational background

On request, next year we will include Associates Degree as an answer category for this question. This sample indicated significant financial benefit to holding a Master’s Degree. The job title with the most Master’s Degree holders in this sample was Calibration Engineer.

Estimated average salary chart

Years in metrology

Predictably, the more years’ service in calibration/metrology the higher compensation we see.

Years in metrology bar graph

Calibration volume

Fewer respondents indicated their labs handled more than 10,000 calibrations per year than any other category. Most indicated 5,000 or less calibrations per year, regardless of job title.

Number of calibrations per year chart

Gender

Clues to differences in pay between genders were not prominent in our data due to limited sizes of the female sample.

Male icon

Male

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$59,559


woman icon

Female

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$50,000


Certification

Certification in a calibration program or similar professional licensing appears to have slight positive impact on pay in this region/sample.

Yes checkbox

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$61,167

No checkbox

Average range reported
$50,000 – $65,000

Estimated average salary
$57,734


Highest paid industries



Process industries (not oil and gas)
Average range $110,001–$125,000
$117,500

Communications Equipment
Average range $65,001–$80,000
$77,500

Government DOD/DOE
Average range $65,001–$80,000
$75,000

Lowest paid industries

Average range reported
Less than $50,000

Automotive
$42,500

Other Manufacturing
$42,500

Semiconductors
$42,500


Workload

Most respondents reported workloads are heavy but not excessive.

Stack table of workload percentage