Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between automation engineering technicians and engineering assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an automation engineering technician and an engineering assistant. Additionally, an automation engineering technician has an average salary of $89,591, which is higher than the $64,402 average annual salary of an engineering assistant.
The top three skills for an automation engineering technician include PLC, HMI and automation engineering. The most important skills for an engineering assistant are troubleshoot, C++, and worksheets.
| Automation Engineering Technician | Engineering Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $89,591 | $64,402 |
| Hourly rate | $43.07 | $30.96 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 81,592 | 53,767 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An automation engineer technician specializes in developing and maintaining automated systems in various industries. They are responsible for responding to reports involving complex issues, inspecting systems, troubleshooting problems, replacing or fixing parts, and maintaining extensive records. They may also perform regular maintenance checks, develop and implement test structures, perform upgrades and modifications, establish guidelines, and communicate directly with clients in an effort to solve issues and concerns. Moreover, they provide technical support to staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
An engineering assistant is responsible for supporting the engineering department's operations under the supervision of a head engineer. Engineering assistants help with operating tools and equipment, developing and analyzing designs, communicating with clients by responding to their inquiries and concerns, creating project plans, and identifying business opportunities to generate revenues and increase profitability. An engineering assistant must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and processes to carry out tasks within strict deadlines and under minimal supervision.
Automation engineering technicians and engineering assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Engineering Technician | Engineering Assistant | |
| Average salary | $89,591 | $64,402 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $121,000 | Between $41,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between an automation engineering technician and an engineering assistant in terms of educational background:
| Automation Engineering Technician | Engineering Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between automation engineering technicians' and engineering assistants' demographics:
| Automation Engineering Technician | Engineering Assistant | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% | Male, 68.8% Female, 31.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.2% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |