For Field Service Technicians, it’s their job to provide customers with everything they need to have their work done. Be it installation, repair, or maintenance of the equipment they need to inform their client about the progress during the procedure.
Field Service Technicians perform their major roles in the central office, mobile towers, outside plant (OSP), or cell sites. As a Field Service Technician, you’re required to be professional and responsible towards your duties. Also, you might need to travel to different locations, install equipment and respond to maintenance service requests.
In order to excel in your job, you need to have outstanding troubleshooting skills, adequate field experience, and the aptitude to find your feet into the changing work schedule. Then, you’ll be able to provide first-rate service and can satisfy your clients.
Responsibilities
If you’re working as a Field Service Technician at any firm or looking to work at this designation, you must know you’ll have a lot of responsibilities to perform.
List of some of the responsibilities:
- Prepare reports of the clients on the exact day you served them
- Follow all company procedures and protocols
- Repairing equipment and replacing faulty parts
- Testing and installing novel equipment
- You’re needed to demonstrate how to use the equipment
- Troubleshoot any issue the customer is facing
- Complete all appointments on time
- Quick response time when dealing with client’s issues
- Meeting with clients to see the nature of repair or maintenance required
- Having routine equipment maintenance
- Guide customers and provide them with training on using new equipment
- Building good customer relationships
To better comprehend what does someone working in field service do, we recommend to read our article about a day in the life of a field service technician or a day in the life of a field service manager.
Requirements and Skills
Being a Field Service Technician is not an easy role. You need to have adequate skills and need to fulfill all the requirements to fit in the workplace with great efficiency and satisfy your customers.
- High school Diploma
- Technician degree or relevant technical certification
- Capable of lifting 55 pounds
- Physically fit
- Can stand on the feet for about 8 hours a day
- Adequate field experience
- Exceptional time management capabilities
- Outstanding problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills for smooth communication with customers
- Proficient in English
- Aptitude to provide troubleshooting, testing, repair, and maintenance of technical equipment
- Capable of traveling from one place to another for work purposes and can deal with changing schedules
- Know-how of mobile tools and apps
How to Become Field Service Technician?
To be a Field Technician, you can choose several routes, such as an apprenticeship, a university degree, a college course, or on-the-job training. But, if you’re highly skilled and have experience, you can directly apply for the job.
In order to be successful in the field of Service Technician, you need to have a degree in Computer Science, IT, Network Technology, or some related fields. Earning a certificate will surely add more value to your work.
That’s not it; to be a Service Technician at some well-reputed firm, certifications can surely earn you some extra points.
Moreover, apart from degrees and certifications, you need to have top-notch customer service skills, and you need to be brilliantly capable of diagnosing and solving problems. But for that, you are also required to have an understanding of non-technical descriptions provided by their clients.
Here is the complete list:
University
If you’re in university, you can complete a foundation degree in engineering to apply in this field for a job as a trainee field technician.
You require:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs in grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent which counts English, math, and science
- 1 or 2 A levels or equivalent
College
To learn some skills, you can also take relevant college courses. Which counts:
- Level 2 Mechanical Engineering Certification
- Level 2 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology Certification
- Level 3 Equipment Maintenance Engineering Diploma
- Level 3 Engineering Diploma.
In order to take a college course, you may require the following:
- 2 or more than 2 GCSEs in grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) or level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs in grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or level 3 courses.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship in accordance with a construction firm is a sound means to set your foot in the industry. But completing a degree post-apprenticeship is a plus in becoming a professional field technician.
For an advanced apprenticeship, you require 5 GCSEs in grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and Math.
If you don’t have a degree, worry not because apprenticeships are open for everyone who is 16 years of age or above. But after being appointed as an apprentice, you will have to work a minimum of 30 hours a week as a fully employed field technician. And your time will be divided into two parts, on-the-job practice, and a training provider.
How Much Does a Field Service Technician Earn?
As estimated by the Payscale, a Field Service Technician earns $50,226 per annum on an average basis. The salary also varies depending on the experience.
Here is what Field Service Technician earns:
- Newly trained field technicians – $42,287
- Experienced trained field technicians – $52,439
- Senior field technicians – $70,922 or more
If you’re doing overtime, its pay is added to your salary. Moreover, there can be business benefits for you, like performance bonuses in accordance with the salary. The company also provides company vehicles, phones, laptops, etc., to assist them in performing their job in the field with great efficiency.
Different Field Technicians
Environmental Field Technician
This technician field requires you to work in both the field and the laboratory. The Environmental Field Technician also termed an environmental science and protection technician, screens the environment for pollution. They take samples of air, soil, and water, and if they are contaminated, they assist in identifying the source of it.
Responsibilities
- Gather air, water, and soil samples to assess the pollution level
- Prepare instruments and tools for data collection
- Screen pollutants from sites like smoke mass or flow from the stream
- Follow all sets of rules and regulations provided
- Operate heavy equipment such as pumps, booms, generators, and vacuum
- Keep track of records
- Prepare reports and discuss the outcomes
Qualification
The Environmental Technician job post requires you to have 2 years of specialized training or a degree in relevant fields. There are some positions that require a bachelor’s degree, while some just require post-secondary training.
If you’re interested in getting the required qualifications for this field, some colleges offer programs in environmental health, public health, or an associated field.
There are also some cases where the technicians are required to have a license and certifications if the technicians are dealing with hazardous wastes.
Skills
- Great teamwork capabilities
- Tremendous observation skills
- Ability to identify the problem and devise solutions
- Critical and logical thinking
- Fond of natural science and must have the know-how in fields areas biology and chemistry.
Salary
On an average basis, an Environmental Field Technician earns around $41,850 in the United States. And this salary can vary based on qualification, experience, skills, and the company size you’re working in.
IT Field Technician
IT Technicians is the job that is more needed in computer software or hardware business to provide support to clients regarding IT products. They basically deliver system support to the employees. The IT Technicians are also responsible for maintaining computer services and devices and resolving any issues within the system.
Furthermore, they are also involved in diagnosing, repairing and maintenance of computer hardware and software. In addition to it, they are required to install and configure the internal hardware of the computer.
Responsibilities
- Installation and configuration of hardware and software gears
- Hardware and software issues troubleshooting
- Repairing or replacement of damaged hardware
- Updating the entire system software
- Providing support to the users regarding the usage of new hardware and software
- Maintaining and managing technical reports
Qualification
To be an IT Field technician, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer-related fields. Also, having certifications in programming languages or systems, such as A+ and Linux+, can help you get the job easily.
Skills
- Bachelor’s degree holder in computer-related fields
- Proficient in problem-solving
- Computer network expert with experience in system maintenance
- Certified in A+, Linux+, or Cisco
- Proficient in English speaking skills
- Focused on every detail
Salary
If you’re an IT Field Technician in the US, you should expect your pay to be around $46,800 per year. But that is not the same for all. It can vary depending on experience and the skills you have.
Computer Field Technician
In this field, technicians are responsible for solving computer systems issues and handling hardware and software-related concerns. They must stay up to date with the new technology and implement their knowledge in the company’s system.
Moreover, they also provide support to different kinds of mass storage, vendor server, desktop, networking, and core legacy devices. Along with that, maintaining internet connectivity, running diagnostic tests, and maintaining servers also come under their duties.
Responsibilities
- Installation of new software
- Tackling problems regarding network connectivity and server issues.
- Maintaining technical documentation and reports
- Regular maintenance of hardware
- Upgrading outdated systems
- Monitoring security systems
- Providing computer training to new users
Qualification
To become a Computer Technician, you are required to have a two-year associate degree in electronics or computer sciences and A+ certification from the CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association).
Skills
- Skilled in operating systems of computers such as MS Windows, MAC OS, and Linux
- High-end knowledge of computer systems
- Understating of computer equipment to the core
- Good written and verbal communication
Salary
As far as the salary of a Computer Service Technician is concerned, it’s nearly an average of $46,843 yearly.
IT Field Support Technician
IT Support Technicians are a crucial part of any organization that mainly involve in IT regarding tasks. They help the business by providing support to their computer system and fixing issues related to the equipment.
Responsibilities
Underlying is the responsibilities that need to be fulfilled.
- IT Support Technicians are required to provide technical support to the clients or the company by installing, testing, or upgrading the hardware and software of the computer.
- They also have to attend phone calls and have live chats to provide a seamless experience to the clients.
- They need to fix any technical issues occurring in the system.
Qualification
To be an IT Support Technician, you require the following:
- 1-3 years of experience with known devices like Windows, Apple, and Chromebook.
- Experience in IT Support
- Understanding of Windows Systems Administration, Active Directory, DHCP & DNS, Veeam, Nutanix
- A+, Network +, Microsoft, or Google certifications
Skills
- Outstanding communication skills
- Know-how of the nitty-gritty of computer operating systems, hardware, and software
- Top-notch analytical skills
- Pay attention to the minute details
- Customer service proficiencies
Salary
IT Field Support Technicians roughly make about $46,570 yearly in the US. The salary also varies based on the roles and capabilities of the individual.
Construction Materials Field Technician
The construction materials testing technician plays a vital role in testing various construction materials on both construction sites and in laboratories. They need to perform multiple tests based on the sample and material that is going to be used.
Also, they need to communicate with the site and office personnel regarding the procedures and outcomes of the tests done and prepare the test reports.
Responsibilities
- Doing routine field tests and laboratory examinations
- Testing samples and observing soil aggregate
- Testing asphalt samples to make sure the thickness, density and % air voids are proper
- Prepare and provide field testing reports
- Performing concrete tests along with performing tests on the slump, air, unit weight and temperature
- Communicating with site engineers, contractors, project managers and other technicians.
Qualification
To become a Construction Material Field Technician, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in the construction-related field. But to excel in your career and get a job at a good post, a master’s degree is a plus.
Skills
- Having a high school diploma
- Exceptional organizational and communication skills
- Able to work independently on projects
- Time management and problem-solving skills
- Work efficiently with the team
Salary
A Construction Technician earns around $42,398 per year in the US, which is the average. However, the salary may vary if the technician has more experience and the company’s reputation is quite good. It also depends upon how skilled the person is.
Archeological Field Technician
Archeological Field Technicians are responsible for finding and extracting fossil remains that are of historical significance. They have to do heavy weightlifting tasks when it’s time for the evacuation of fossil remains.
Responsibilities
- Assisting other group members on projects
- Conducting research on site-related historical documents
- Collecting and analyzing samples
- Having surveys on the sites to point out the historical significance
- Drawing maps and sketches for publications
Qualification
At least a bachelor’s degree in archaeology or anthropology is a must to become an archaeological field technician. But, in some organizations, you must have to be a master’s degree holder to get accepted.
Skills
- Brilliant verbal communication skills
- Expert at problem-solving
- Good physical stamina to withstand the harsh working environment
Salary
For Archaeological field technicians, an average of $19.88 per hour is paid, or approximately $41,352 per year. The lowest 10% of Archaeological field technicians earn around $33,000 yearly, while the top 10% roughly earn about $50,000 a year.
Telecommunications Field Technician
Telecommunication Technician has quite a significant role if our firm is dealing with products and services such as internet, intranet, cables, routers, telephones, faxes and other computer equipment. As a Telecommunication Technician, you need to install and keep the maintenance of telecommunication equipment.
Along with that, taking care of the site where installation is done, troubleshooting problems and maintenance are some of the important tasks that come under this job.
Responsibilities
- Identification and monitoring of telecommunication products, along with reporting and resolving if there is any issue
- Managing different projects at once and timely making reports of the progress
- Running routine tests on systems to make sure their components are working in good condition
- Solve any issues regarding networks and ensure the smooth functioning of systems
Skills
- Having know-how of upcoming trends
- Experience working with a team of expert technicians
- Deep knowledge of telecommunications systems
- Able to work under pressure
Salary
Telecommunication technician jobs demand to be paid well. That’s why in the US, they are paid between the range of $50,940 and $66,217. But, on average, the salary of a Telecommunication Technician is nearly $58,306.
Field Network Technician
Field Network Technicians in any organization work directly with clients and help them install and maintain networks. Also, they monitor the IP networks to identify and resolve if there are some issues that are impacting the performance of systems.
Responsibilities
- Resolving glitches in the systems and giving solutions to tackle any restrictions to ensure the smooth functioning of the systems.
- Troubleshooting usual networking issues
- Guide clients on operating the network appropriately
- Installing wire-free computer networks and connections
- Provide clients with all the maintenance services they need
Qualification
To be a Field Support Technician, you don’t need to be highly educated. Some companies even accept people with great skills and high school diplomas. There are also some firms that have a requirement for a bachelor’s degree in computer science or in other computer-related fields.
Skills
- Communicating with clients in an efficient manner
- Ability to work in teams and give up-to-the-mark outcomes
- Problem-handling and solving techniques
- Technical knowledge regarding all computer networks and systems
Salary
Field Network Technician is a job that offers a healthy salary. If you want to pursue a Field Technician career in the US, you can earn an average of $71,459 a year. If you excel in this career and have a quite good experience along with skills, you can earn even more than that, plus you can get bonuses and allowances too.
Senior Construction Materials Field Technician
Senior Construction Material Field Technician moves soils, concrete, testing equipment etc., from one location to another with the help of carts, two-wheel dollies, or trucks. Uses a coring unit, pick, spade, or shovel to pick up construction materials and test them.
Responsibilities
- Routine quality testing
- Report to the Project Manager if there are any problems with the plans
- Prepare and submit daily reports
- Daily client meetings
- Attend site meetings
Qualification
- High school diploma
- Construction or technical training
- Driver’s license
Skills
- Know how to use field equipment
- Handle every situation professionally
Salary
The starting pay of a Senior Construction Materials Field Technician is $37,647 annually.
