FederalPay.org
Instrument Mechanic - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Instrument Mechanic"
How much does an Instrument Mechanic in the federal government get paid? $51,494.66* *Based on the 2021 average.Instrument Mechanic was the 366th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 123 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2021, the Agricultural Marketing Service hired the most employees titled Instrument Mechanic, with an average salary of $41,236.
Government Instrument Mechanic jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Instrument Mechanic job is FWS-8, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-11. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard is for grading nonsupervisory jobs involved in installing, aligning, modifying, troubleshooting, repairing, overhauling, testing, and calibrating a variety of instruments containing electric, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and/or electronic components, assemblies, and controls. The work includes using both manual and automated test equipment such as pneumatic, hydraulic, or vacuum test stands or computer controlled electronic test consoles to test, align, and calibrate instruments. The work also includes maintaining, repairing, and calibrating precision instruments and standards such as dial indicators, concentricity gauges, sine bars, micrometers, and plug and ring gauges. The work requires knowledge and application of electrical and mechanical principles; knowledge of pneumatic and/or hydraulic mechanisms; and, in some work situations, knowledge of electronic principles and theory.
Agencies that have hired an Instrument Mechanic
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Marketing Service | 100 | $41,235.62 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 16 | $106,430.38 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 4 | $57,355.50 |
| Bureau of Land Management | 1 | $98,590.00 |
| Indian Affairs | 1 | $98,277.00 |
| Food Safety and Inspection Service | 1 | $81,106.00 |
Instrument Mechanic Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Instrument Mechanic is $51,494.66. The highest paid Instrument Mechanic made $108,047 in 2021.
Common Instrument Mechanic Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Instrument Mechanic Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 104 |
| BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 17 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 1 |
| WB - Wage Positions Under The Federal Wage System Not Otherwise Designated | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $10.68 to $28.58 / hour at paygrade FWS-8 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $12.06 to $34.60 / hour at paygrade FWS-11 |
| Occupation Family: | INSTRUMENT WORK FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-8 Paygrade
FWS-8 is the starting paygrade for Instrument Mechanic jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-8 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Forming Machine Operating | FWS-6 | FWS-10 |
| Boiler Plant Operating | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Rigging | FWS-8 | FWS-10 |
| Fuel Distribution System Operating | FWS-6 | FWS-10 |
| Roofing | FWS-7 | FWS-9 |
Average Instrument Mechanic Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for an Instrument Mechanic was $42,793. Since then, the average pay has increased to $51,495 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 3359.