---
title: "Set a default cost type segment for technician"
slug: "default-cost-type-segment-for-technician"
tags: ["Area - Jobs, Appts, Projects", "Area - Payroll and Timekeeping", "Type - Commercial", "Type - Residential", "Focus - Construction", "Role - Admin"]
updated: 2026-11-03T15:58:51Z
published: 2026-11-03T15:58:51Z
canonical: "help.servicetitan.com/default-cost-type-segment-for-technician"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.servicetitan.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set a default cost type segment for technician

## Overview

You can set a default labor cost type segment on the technician's profile. When the technician creates a timesheet, ServiceTitan preselects the cost type, if available on the work order or project. This reduces manual selection and helps keep labor coding consistent.

---

### 

#### Who uses this feature

- Office employees
- Primarily benefits Residential and Commercial Construction business types
- Applies to all trades

#### Feature configuration

- Budget Codes is currently in Private Preview and available for specific accounts. It is subject to change. If you want to enable this feature for your account, join the waitlist [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe31Lx37Pmg7D8Go6xCywfGaC6YleEQ4ZfBm3NvMnpNcdKwqQ/viewform).

## Things to know

- The default cost type segment applies only to timesheets created after you save the Technician Profile.
- The system applies the default cost type segment only if the same cost type segment is available on the work order or project. If unavailable, the technician needs to manually select a cost type segment.
- This applies to timesheets created automatically, when a technician is dispatched or arrives at a work order, and manually.

## Use cases

- You have employees with specific roles, such as apprentices or foremen. Assigning their respective cost types as defaults ensures their hours are categorized correctly without manual input on every work order.
- For dedicated install crews, you set Install Labor as the default cost type segment.
- Technicians are assigned to long-term commercial projects. Preselecting a project-specific cost type segment helps prevent miscoding, ensuring that labor hours are billed against the correct budget every time.

## Set technician's default cost type

1. Go to the top toolbar and click **Settings** ![A simple icon representing a settings gear.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/icon-gnav-settings-inactive.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-09T11%3A16%3A42Z&se=2026-11-09T12%3A16%3A42Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=iLs4kzuK3IFbSGfhvVqazNivLs3GiB4W%2FN7uCb0Qw5k%3D).
2. In the side panel, go to **People** **>** **Technician**.
3. On the *Technicians* screen that opens, click **Edit** next to the employee you want to set the default cost type for.
4. On the screen that opens, in the *Revenue & Cost* section, select a default **Cost Type**. ![Input fields for daily revenue goal and hourly burden rate in a cost management tool.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/set-a-default-cost-type-segment-for-technician-image-8ckfv3jb.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-09T11%3A16%3A42Z&se=2026-11-09T12%3A16%3A42Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=iLs4kzuK3IFbSGfhvVqazNivLs3GiB4W%2FN7uCb0Qw5k%3D)
5. When finished, click **Save Changes**.

After you save, this cost type segment will be preselected on all new timesheets the technician creates.

![Timesheet entry form showing project details and instructions for editing ongoing activities.](https://cdn.document360.io/961862ab-d0f2-4d91-bb62-a62ee8184eff/Images/Documentation/set-a-default-cost-type-segment-for-technician-image-u968voqp.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-09T11%3A16%3A42Z&se=2026-11-09T12%3A16%3A42Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=iLs4kzuK3IFbSGfhvVqazNivLs3GiB4W%2FN7uCb0Qw5k%3D)

## Want to learn more?

- See [Budget Codes overview](/commercial/docs/budget-codes-overview)
- See [Add and edit budget codes on timesheets](/commercial/docs/add-and-edit-budget-codes-on-timesheets)

The user record for a field technician in ServiceTitan, containing schedule, skills, pay rates, certifications, and performance history.

**What it does:** Centralizes all information needed to schedule, pay, and evaluate a technician from a single record.

**Also called:** Tech profile, Field user record

**Tags:** Core

[See the full glossary →](https://help.servicetitan.com/docs/glossary-overview)