Industrial Electronics Repairer
Repair the electronic controls that run industrial machines.
- $74,090
- Training program plus a year or more on the job
Energy & Utilities career
Control Valve Technician
Also called: Valve Technician · Valve Installer · Valve Repairer · Instrument and Valve Technician
What control valve technicians do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a control valve technician do?
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door, install, repair and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices such as valves and meters. The median pay is $74,340 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Months to years of training, and employment is projected to grow +4.3% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$74,340$35.74/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+4.3%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year3,600Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to trainMonths to years of trainingTypical program length
- U.S. jobs50,400Employment, 2025
What control valve technicians do
Valve technicians keep flow under control. They install, calibrate and repair control valves, regulators, actuators and gas meters at refineries, power plants, pipelines and utilities.
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical. BLS projects about average growth.
Typical duties
- Install valves
- Repair valves
- Calibrate actuators
- Test regulators
- Maintain gas meters
- Troubleshoot controls
- Document work
Work environment and schedule
Technicians work in plants, shops and along pipelines.
Schedule: Full time, with on-call and outage work.
A day in the life
- Review work orders.
- Pull a control valve.
- Rebuild it in the shop.
- Bench test.
See a full day in the life of a control valve technician →
Control Valve Technician salary
Half of control valve technicians earned more than $74,340 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $45,910 for the lowest 10% to $112,500 for the top 10%.
Full control valve technician pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a control valve technician
- Finish high school
- Take mechanical courses
- Get hired as a helper
- Earn manufacturer training
- Advance
A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a control valve technician →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Valve repair
- Actuator calibration
- Positioner setup
- Pressure testing
- Instrumentation basics
People skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Safety focus
- Reliability
All control valve technician skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Good pay
- Technical skill
- Steady demand
- Many industries
Cons
- On-call duty
- Hazardous plants
- Outdoor work
- Heavy valves
Certifications and licenses
- Manufacturer valve training: Fisher, Emerson and others.
- ISA CCST: Control systems technician.
- OSHA 10: Safety.
- Operator qualification: Pipelines.
Career path
- Helper: Entry.
- Valve Technician: Repair.
- Senior Technician: Lead.
- Instrument Supervisor: Supervise.
Learn the job before day one
Our Control Valve Technician training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as stroke test a control valve and rebuild a control valve, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Control Valve Technician vs. Industrial Electronics Repairer · Control Valve Technician vs. Pump Operator · Control Valve Technician vs. Gas Compressor Operator · Control Valve Technician vs. Maintenance Technician
Control Valve Technician FAQ
Do I need a degree?
No.
Where do valve techs work?
Refineries, plants, pipelines and utilities.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects about average growth.
How much does a control valve technician make?
The median annual wage for control valve technicians was $74,340 ($35.74 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $45,910 and the highest 10% earned more than $112,500.
How long does it take to become a control valve technician?
Most people need about Months to years of training of training. A high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training are typical.
Do you need a degree to be a control valve technician?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More control valve technician questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 49-9012 (Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.