Engineers

How to become a Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialist

Official title: Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists

Also called: Deployment Engineer, Electro Magnetic Compatibility Test Engineer, RFID Engineer (Radio Frequency Identification Device Engineer), RFID Systems Engineer (Radio Frequency Identification Device Systems Engineer), Technical Support Engineer

Design and implement radio frequency identification device (RFID) systems used to track shipments or goods.

Main tasks

Identify operational requirements for new systems to inform selection of technological solutions.
Integrate tags, readers, or software in radio frequency identification device (RFID) designs.
Perform systems analysis or programming of radio frequency identification device (RFID) technology.
Test radio frequency identification device (RFID) software to ensure proper functioning.
Select appropriate radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags and determine placement locations.
Perform site analyses to determine system configurations, processes to be impacted, or on-site obstacles to technology implementation.
Perform acceptance testing on newly installed or updated systems.
Determine means of integrating radio frequency identification device (RFID) into other applications.

How to become one

Electrical and electronics engineers typically need at least a bachelor's degree in a related engineering field. Employers also value practical experience, such as internships or participation in cooperative engineering programs.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
Licence: A licence is required in 45 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $130,220 a year The middle half earn $101,680 to $167,670.
About 98,200 people work in this job now, and about 101,800 are projected by 2035. (+3.7%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialist?

How much does a Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $130,220 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $101,680 to $167,670.

Is a Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 98,200 to about 101,800 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialist?

Usually. 84% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialist?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.