An average-temperature compensated transmitter comprising: a sensor module configured to generate a sensor signal characterizing a process parameter; a controller configured to generate a compensated output as a function of the sensor signal and a compensation signal; and an interface configured to transmit the compensated output according to a field device communication protocol, characterized by: a temperature-averaging sensor configured to generate the compensation signal characterizing an extended region of the transmitter, wherein the temperature-averaging sensor comprises a resistance-temperature device having a wire core, and wherein the wire core comprises at least one of DIN-grade platinum, reference-grade platinum, nickel, copper, or a nickel/iron alloy, wherein the wire core is either wound substantially uniformly with the same density throughout the extent of the resistance temperature device, or wound non-uniformly with preferentially sensitive regions wound relatively densely, and wherein the resistance-temperature device has either: a two-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising two lead wires (41, 42), which are connected across the wire core, and the three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); a three-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising three lead wires (41, 42, 56), which are connected across the wire core, and three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); or a four-wire output configuration, the output wiring having four lead wires (41, 42, 56, 57) and no bridge resistors; and wherein the transmitter is auto-corrected for the effects of self-heating in the resistance-temperature device. a sensor module configured to generate a sensor signal characterizing a process parameter; a controller configured to generate a compensated output as a function of the sensor signal and a compensation signal; and an interface configured to transmit the compensated output according to a field device communication protocol, characterized by: a temperature-averaging sensor configured to generate the compensation signal characterizing an extended region of the transmitter, wherein the temperature-averaging sensor comprises a resistance-temperature device having a wire core, and wherein the wire core comprises at least one of DIN-grade platinum, reference-grade platinum, nickel, copper, or a nickel/iron alloy, wherein the wire core is either wound substantially uniformly with the same density throughout the extent of the resistance temperature device, or wound non-uniformly with preferentially sensitive regions wound relatively densely, and wherein the resistance-temperature device has either: a two-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising two lead wires (41, 42), which are connected across the wire core, and the three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); a three-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising three lead wires (41, 42, 56), which are connected across the wire core, and three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); or a four-wire output configuration, the output wiring having four lead wires (41, 42, 56, 57) and no bridge resistors; and wherein the transmitter is auto-corrected for the effects of self-heating in the resistance-temperature device. a temperature-averaging sensor configured to generate the compensation signal characterizing an extended region of the transmitter, wherein the temperature-averaging sensor comprises a resistance-temperature device having a wire core, and wherein the wire core comprises at least one of DIN-grade platinum, reference-grade platinum, nickel, copper, or a nickel/iron alloy, wherein the wire core is either wound substantially uniformly with the same density throughout the extent of the resistance temperature device, or wound non-uniformly with preferentially sensitive regions wound relatively densely, and wherein the resistance-temperature device has either: a two-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising two lead wires (41, 42), which are connected across the wire core, and the three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); a three-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising three lead wires (41, 42, 56), which are connected across the wire core, and three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); or a four-wire output configuration, the output wiring having four lead wires (41, 42, 56, 57) and no bridge resistors; and wherein the transmitter is auto-corrected for the effects of self-heating in the resistance-temperature device. a two-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising two lead wires (41, 42), which are connected across the wire core, and the three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); a three-wire bridge output configuration, the output wiring comprising three lead wires (41, 42, 56), which are connected across the wire core, and three bridge resistors (51, 52, 53); or a four-wire output configuration, the output wiring having four lead wires (41, 42, 56, 57) and no bridge resistors; and wherein the transmitter is auto-corrected for the effects of self-heating in the resistance-temperature device.