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The differences between automation engineering technicians and process engineering technicians 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 a process engineering technician. Additionally, an automation engineering technician has an average salary of $89,591, which is higher than the $84,612 average annual salary of a process engineering technician.
The top three skills for an automation engineering technician include PLC, HMI and automation engineering. The most important skills for a process engineering technician are process engineering, continuous improvement, and process improvement.
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $89,591 | $84,612 |
| Hourly rate | $43.07 | $40.68 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 81,592 | 91,755 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
A process engineering technician typically works at manufacturing facilities where they are in charge of providing technical support to engineers in an effort to optimize production operations. Their responsibilities usually include performing installations and adjustments, developing and implementing test structures, understanding blueprints and schematics, replacing components, troubleshooting problems, recommending solutions, and repairing parts as needed. A process engineering technician typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Automation engineering technicians and process engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Average salary | $89,591 | $84,612 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $121,000 | Between $64,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Cupertino, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Idaho |
| Best paying company | - | Apple |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an automation engineering technician and a process engineering technician in terms of educational background:
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between automation engineering technicians' and process engineering technicians' demographics:
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Engineering Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% | Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4% |
| 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, 8.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |