Calibration Technologists and Technicians

AI & job outlook

What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.

Exposure to current AI

Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.

OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.2), with simple added tooling (β 0.4), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.6). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.

Job outlook

Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.

“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.

Tasks

All 15 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.

• Analyze test data to identify defects or determine calibration requirements.
• Attend conferences, workshops, or other training sessions to learn about new tools or methods.
• Calibrate devices by comparing measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, or other environmental conditions to known standards.
• Conduct calibration tests to determine performance or reliability of mechanical, structural, or electromechanical equipment.
• Develop new calibration methods or techniques based on measurement science, analyses, or calibration requirements.
• Disassemble and reassemble equipment for inspection.
• Draw plans for developing jigs, fixtures, instruments, or other devices.
• Maintain or repair measurement devices or equipment used for calibration testing.
• Operate metalworking machines to fabricate housings, jigs, fittings, or fixtures.
• Order replacement parts for malfunctioning equipment.
• Plan sequences of calibration tests according to equipment specifications and scientific principles.
• Read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical orders.
• Verify part dimensions or clearances using precision measuring instruments to ensure conformance to specifications.
• Visually inspect equipment to detect surface defects.
• Write and submit reports about the results of calibration tests.

Work activities

• Evaluate characteristics of products.
• Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
• Update technical knowledge.
• Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
• Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
• Develop technical methods or processes.
• Reassemble equipment after repair.
• Disassemble equipment to inspect for deficiencies.
• Draw detailed or technical illustrations.
• Repair precision devices or workpieces.
• Maintain test equipment.
• Fabricate products or components using machine tools.
• Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
• Prepare detailed work plans.
• Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
• Inspect finished products to locate flaws.
• Inspect condition or functioning of facilities or equipment.
• Write reports or evaluations.

Skills in demand

Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.

• Microsoft Word Common Skill
• Microsoft Outlook Common Skill
• Microsoft Excel Common Skill
• Microsoft Project Specialized Skill
• Microsoft PowerPoint Common Skill
• Linux Specialized Skill
• Minitab Specialized Skill
• Project Management Software Specialized Skill
• Presentation Software Specialized Skill

Tools & technology

How to get in

Job zone

Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Typical entry-level education

Associate's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement

Related experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Preparation level

SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.

What to study: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.

Interests & work styles

The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.

Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)

Interest areas

Work styles

Wages & employment

U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)

Industries that employ this occupation

Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.

Where this work is most concentrated

Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).

Related occupations

Part of the Advanced Manufacturing and Energy & Natural Resources career clusters.

• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians · 17-3021.00 Compare →
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians · 17-3023.00 Compare →
• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians · 17-3027.00 Compare →
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment · 49-2094.00 Compare →
• Robotics Technicians · 17-3024.01 Compare →
• Automotive Engineering Technicians · 17-3027.01 Compare →
• Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians · 17-3024.00 Compare →
• Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers · 51-2023.00 Compare →
• Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers · 51-9061.00 Compare →
• Medical Equipment Repairers · 49-9062.00 Compare →
• Electronics Engineers, Except Computer · 17-2072.00 Compare →
• Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians · 17-3026.00 Compare →

Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.

What you can do with this

Options the data surfaces for Calibration Technologists and Technicians — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-role-17-3028-00,
  title  = {Calibration Technologists and Technicians},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3028-00}
}