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The differences between assembly & test technicians and test technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an assembly & test technician and a test technician. Additionally, a test technician has an average salary of $43,171, which is higher than the $38,774 average annual salary of an assembly & test technician.
The top three skills for an assembly & test technician include mechanical assembly, aerospace and dexterity. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.
| Assembly & Test Technician | Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,774 | $43,171 |
| Hourly rate | $18.64 | $20.76 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 64,354 | 71,414 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 47% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An assembly & test technician works at manufacturing facilities where they are in charge of assembling product components and subjecting them to various tests, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their organization of employment, it usually includes understanding diagrams and project requirements, establishing and implementing test parameters, operating tools and equipment, maintaining records, and producing detailed reports. There are also times when they must coordinate with quality control teams, working together in a joint effort to improve production processes and results.
A test technician is responsible for running multiple diagnostic tests on various tools and equipment to boost optimization and ensure its efficient performance on operations. Test technicians inspect system components and manage calibration, following clients' specifications or the business' needs. A test technician also analyzes the system's design processes and features to understand its complexities and identify necessary upgrades. Test technicians keep a record of system issues and resolutions for reference. A test technician must have excellent knowledge of the technical and mechanical industry to perform tasks and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
Assembly & test technicians and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assembly & Test Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,774 | $43,171 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $49,000 | Between $30,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | Nokia |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Technology |
There are a few differences between an assembly & test technician and a test technician in terms of educational background:
| Assembly & Test Technician | Test Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 47% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between assembly & test technicians' and test technicians' demographics:
| Assembly & Test Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |