What Is a Metrologist? Definition, Salary and How to Become One

Written by

Updated June 9, 2025

Metrologists professionals are vital across various industries including electrical and electronics industries. They have several duties, including putting together electrical prototypes and systems, repairing electrical instruments and writing specifications of experimental electronic units. Here we explore what a metrologist is, what they do, the average salary of a metrologist and the steps you can take to pursue this career path.Key takeaways:

Metrologists play important roles in various industries, developing new measurement systems and tools and conducting scientific research related to the science of measurement.
To start a career as a metrologist, one must earn a high school diploma, attain a degree in a relevant field, consider certifications, gain practical experience through internships and pursue additional courses to stay up-to-date with trends in metrology.
Beyond their technical roles, metrologists need a set of essential skills that include logical thinking, observation, writing, communication and strong math abilities to succeed in their career.

What is a metrologist?

A metrologist is a person who studies and practices the science of measurement. They spend much of their career developing quantity systems as well as other units of measurement and methods of measurement used in scientific settings. The primary goal of a metrologist is to find and establish novel tools to better understand the theory and methods of measurement.Metrologists must have a good understanding of instrumentation engineering, metrology and how to perform scientific research as it relates to the science of measurement.

What does a metrologist do?

Metrologists, who also may be referred to as electronics or electrical engineering technicians, work with other engineers to devise new ways to measure things. The industry the metrologist works in will determine the specific measurement devices and equipment they work on. Common devices that metrologists help design and develop include computers, medical monitoring systems, communications equipment and navigational systems such as GPS devices.Many metrologists work product testing and evaluation and test, repair and adjust various equipment using diagnostic and measuring tools. Additional duties a metrologist may have include:

Designing various measurement systems that measure properties such as speed, energy, force, length, volume and area
Implementing and interpreting internationally accepted units of measurement as they relate to the metrologist's industry
Performing scientific research to analyze and test various measurement and measuring methods
Developing calibration procedures to boost instrument performance testing
Studying the relationships between quantities, forms and magnitudes
Assembling and operating measuring equipment
Writing calibration reports based on an instrument's measurements and results
Going to construction sites to observe the conditions that may affect the design as it relates to measurement

Metrologist salary

The average annual salary of a metrologist in the United States is $89,164. However, metrologist salaries vary greatly depending on the place of work, location of work and how much experience the metrologist has. For example, the average salary of metrologists in Washington State is $94,849, while the average salary for this profession is $107,412 per year in California.

How to become a metrologist

The following are the steps most metrologists take to pursue a career in this field:

1. Earn a high school diploma or its equivalent

All metrologists must have a high school diploma or its equivalent such as passing the GRE.

2. Get a degree in engineering

Most careers as a metrologist require professionals to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field. Other fields of study to consider include statistics, physics and math. Technical colleges may offer degrees in metrology specifically; however, these degrees are typically associate's degrees and do not meet the minimum requirement of a bachelor's degree that many metrologist jobs ask for.

3. Consider certifications

There are several certifications you can pursue as a metrologist. These certifications advance your career and make you more appealing to potential employers. A few popular metrology certifications to consider include Coordinate Metrology Society's (CMS) Level-One and Level-Two Certifications and ASQ's ISO/IEC 17025 Compliance certification. Additional organizations that offer metrology-related certifications include The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), ETA International and The International Society of Automation.

4. Get an internship

Either while pursuing a degree or after receiving your diploma for your degree, you should consider working as an intern within the field of metrology you wish to work in. An internship will provide you with hands-on experience and a better understanding of what a career as a metrologist will entail.

5. Take additional courses

If you want to pursue a particular career path within the field of metrology, there are several available courses outside of college you can take to further your career and keep up-to-date on the latest trends in this field. Several organizations offer educational courses for metrologists, including Global Measurement Solutions and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Skills needed to be a metrologist

Metrologists must have several skills to be successful in their careers. The most important skills a metrologist should have include:

Logical-thinking skills

Metrologists spend much of their time identifying and analyzing problems as they relate to the science of measurement and electronics. These professionals must have good reasoning skills to not only find problems but also to provide solutions to them. Metrologists should also be able to follow a logical sequence of rules to bring to life the designs and prototypes of new measurement tools and equipment.Related: The Best Ways To Strengthen Your Logical Thinking Skills

Observational skills

Metrologists must be able to observe different situations, such as construction sites, to ensure that measurement devices and equipment are being used effectively. Based on their observations, metrologists will evaluate and make suggestions as to how to further improve projects.

Writing skills

Metrologists are often tasked with writing reports based on the results of their testing and any problems they found during their research. Their writing must be concise, well-organized and easy-to-understand so that engineers can work to use the information in a productive way.Related: Writing Skills: Definition and Examples

Communication skills

Metrologists often work as part of a team with other engineers or metrologists to develop, design and implement new measurement systems. Good communication is necessary to ensure ideas and directions are clearly understood and acted out.

Math skills

Math is one of the foundations of metrology, so metrologists should be very skilled in this area. These professionals use math in almost every aspect of their profession, including when analyzing, designing and troubleshooting equipment.

The information on this site is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers

Electrical engineering technicians