Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Control Valve Technician
What control valve technicians actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a control valve technician?
Review work orders. From there, the day usually includes install valves, repair valves, and calibrate actuators. Full time, with on-call and outage work.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a control valve technician working full time.
- Review work orders.
- Pull a control valve.
- Rebuild it in the shop.
- Bench test.
- Calibrate a positioner.
- Reinstall the valve.
- Write reports.
Where control valve technicians work
Technicians work in plants, shops and along pipelines.
Hours and schedule
Full time, with on-call and outage work.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Install valves
- Repair valves
- Calibrate actuators
- Test regulators
- Maintain gas meters
- Troubleshoot controls
- Document work
Tools you’ll use every day
- Calibrators
- Test benches
- Hoists
- Torque wrenches
- Pressure gauges
- Laptops
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Good pay
- Technical skill
- Steady demand
- Many industries
What’s hard
- On-call duty
- Hazardous plants
- Outdoor work
- Heavy valves
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like mechanical work
- I like precision
- I solve problems
- I care about safety
- I can be on call
- I want good pay
Not sure? Take the free Control Valve Technician fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow lockout/tagout
- Depressurize lines
- Lift valves with hoists
- Wear PPE