<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-01-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866706</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204034</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KHILNANI VINOD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9900A CLAYTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAINT LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Share Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-01-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1.4175</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>102.12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1.4175</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1810.7553</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Share Units (RSUs) issued in lieu of cash dividends on the RSUs held by the director on the record date. Eash RSU is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. A portion of the RSU representing dividends on unvested shares becomes payable in Common Stock and/or cash when the underlying shares vest or concurrently with the distribution of the underlying shares if the director has so designated. Any remaining RSUs become payable in common stock upon or at the election of the reporting person installments beginning upon the termination of the reporting person's service as a director or such earlier time as the director may have designated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Power of Attorney on file</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ J.D. Fisher, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
