TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) as its own occupation, so this page uses Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (SOC 17-3027, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $74,510 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $59,510 to $88,110.
This is what we do all day: recruit data center professionals.
Closest proxy
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,400 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $59,510 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $74,510 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $88,110 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $106,050 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $76,380 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23.27 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $28.61 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $35.82 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $42.36 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $50.99 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $36.72 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages cover: OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. These are straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately. BLS pay-term definitions.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 17-3027 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, United States. Download national data (ZIP).
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $74,510 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 1.46 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | 7,160 | 19.8% | $72,110 | $57,860 to $93,290 |
| Engineering Services | 541330 | 6,180 | 17.1% | $72,820 | $57,870 to $92,520 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | 541380 | 880 | 2.4% | $65,760 | $51,990 to $96,670 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | 370 | 1.0% | $96,380 | $59,010 to $131,440 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | 330 | 0.9% | $100,680 | $86,470 to $117,730 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | 240 | 0.7% | $64,870 | $58,630 to $76,370 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | 100 | 0.3% | $73,940 | $70,570 to $81,130 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | 90 | 0.2% | $61,530 | $60,330 to $73,710 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 423400 | 80 | 0.2% | $79,760 | $59,890 to $96,770 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | 70 | 0.2% | $68,340 | $52,860 to $102,810 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 334100 | 50 | 0.1% | $60,760 | $49,540 to $82,520 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $77,480 | $69,340 to $86,270 | 360 | 0.5 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $71,910 | $58,750 to $82,830 | 350 | 0.37 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $77,580 | $61,430 to $92,840 | 400 | 0.72 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $70,990 | $52,330 to $90,690 | 300 | 0.44 |
| Columbus, OH | $80,330 | $64,110 to $95,920 | 280 | 1.09 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $96,680 | $85,040 to $122,340 | 530 | 2.02 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,280 | $67,190 to $94,250 | 200 | 0.7 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 143 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $126,230 | 90 | 3.01 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $119,630 | 90 | 0.9 |
| 3 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $110,030 | 90 | 1.09 |
| 4 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $109,470 | 80 | 2.59 |
| 5 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $105,160 | 110 | 1.15 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $102,610 | 100 | 2.64 |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $100,620 | 790 | 1.43 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $100,150 | 600 | 2.34 |
| 9 | Albuquerque, NM | $98,440 | 180 | 1.9 |
| 10 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $97,300 | 60 | 1.55 |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $56,580 | 60 | 0.17 |
| 135 | Warner Robins, GA | $56,530 | 40 | 2.21 |
| 136 | Knoxville, TN | $56,310 | 180 | 1.85 |
| 137 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $53,140 | 200 | 0.62 |
| 138 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $51,860 | 50 | 0.33 |
| 139 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $51,620 | 80 | 1.55 |
| 140 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $51,440 | 50 | 0.82 |
| 141 | Wichita, KS | $50,130 | 50 | 0.71 |
| 142 | Charleston, WV | $47,660 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 143 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $47,410 | 30 | 0.92 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $119,630 | $48,710 | 2.46 times | 90 | 0.9 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $110,030 | $47,470 | 2.32 times | 90 | 1.09 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $126,230 | $57,290 | 2.20 times | 90 | 3.01 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $96,610 | $45,990 | 2.10 times | 240 | 4.39 |
| Peoria, IL | $102,610 | $49,590 | 2.07 times | 100 | 2.64 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $98,440 | $48,060 | 2.05 times | 180 | 1.9 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $105,160 | $51,820 | 2.03 times | 110 | 1.15 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $97,300 | $48,630 | 2.00 times | 60 | 1.55 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $100,150 | $50,820 | 1.97 times | 600 | 2.34 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $109,470 | $57,370 | 1.91 times | 80 | 2.59 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $91,450 | $49,410 | 1.85 times | 1,030 | 1.35 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $84,930 | $46,670 | 1.82 times | 210 | 0.78 |
| Florence, SC | $78,840 | $43,520 | 1.81 times | 30 | 1.67 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $51,860 | $29,440 | 1.76 times | 50 | 0.33 |
| Columbus, IN | $82,460 | $48,470 | 1.70 times | 130 | 10.84 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $73,940 | $43,470 | 1.70 times | 70 | 1.93 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $82,220 | $48,550 | 1.69 times | 200 | 4.86 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $81,330 | $48,170 | 1.69 times | 90 | 2.21 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $84,020 | $49,990 | 1.68 times | 300 | 0.96 |
| Dalton, GA | $70,640 | $42,210 | 1.67 times | 30 | 2.15 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $94,960 | $56,850 | 1.67 times | 30 | 0.71 |
| El Paso, TX | $65,980 | $39,510 | 1.67 times | 70 | 0.87 |
| Dubuque, IA | $81,110 | $48,750 | 1.66 times | 60 | 4.08 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $79,570 | $48,070 | 1.66 times | 100 | 3.24 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $74,450 | $46,060 | 1.62 times | 80 | 5.5 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 17-3027 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $68,730 |
| May 2025 | $74,510 |
| Difference | +$5,780 (+8.4%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For an operations offer, separate standby availability payments from wages for hours actually worked. BLS excludes on-call waiting pay and shift differentials. Ordinary straight-time wages for work performed are not excluded by the on-call rule.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call waiting or availability pay matters here | Left out | BLS excludes payment for time spent awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. BLS on-call pay definition. |
| Overtime pay | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Recruiter's read
Qualitative, not from BLS data.
TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) candidates are usually screened on nEBB or AABC technician certification; air and hydronic balancing in data halls and central plants; calibrated instrument records.
We usually find them through tAB firms; mechanical contractors; HVAC service. We contact working people directly rather than relying on job applications.
Questions
What is the median pay for TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing)?
The BLS median annual wage for Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians nationally is $74,510 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $59,510 to $88,110, and 10% earned less than $48,400.
Is this the exact job title?
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 36,190 jobs nationally in Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing): BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing)?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
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- Methodology
What the published rows say about TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) pay in the United States
TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) maps to Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians, SOC 17-3027. For the United States, the May 2025 OEWS annual median is $74,510; the middle half runs from $59,510 to $88,110. This is a proxy, not a separate wage estimate for this exact job. BLS does not separate seniority titles that share this row. Check whether you need someone to execute test scripts or own the commissioning plan. Travel and responsibility for sign-off belong in the offer discussion, not in an assumed wage premium.
The middle-half spread is $28,600: $15,000 from the 25th percentile to the median and $13,600 from the median to the 75th. The lower interval is wider. Use these points to compare an offer, not to price a junior or senior hire. Percentiles are not experience bands, and this distribution alone does not explain why individual workers earn different amounts.
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI reports a annual median of $69,490 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $5,020 below the United States's median.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA reports a annual median of $79,080 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $4,570 above the United States's median.
The highest exact national industry medians in the loaded SOC 17-3027 rows are Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $148,760 and Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $148,760. These are May 2025 national occupation estimates, not local data center pay. The loaded data has no local industry-by-occupation breakdown, so it cannot rank industries within the United States.
The matched median moved from $68,730 in May 2024 to $74,510 in May 2025: $5,780 higher. Both rows use SOC 17-3027, area 99 and the same annual basis. This is not adjusted for inflation or annualized, and it does not attribute the change to a particular employer.
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. This is neither pure base salary nor total compensation. Agree travel, per diem and relocation terms separately. No verified TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing)-specific allowance is in this occupation row, so none is added to the figures.
Questions about TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) pay in the United States?
TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing) maps to SOC 17-3027, Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians. The May 2025 annual median for the United States is $74,510. The proxy mapping is not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the figure cover the whole offer for TAB Technician (testing, adjusting and balancing)?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Travel and relocation terms still need their own discussion; this row supplies no separate allowance.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.