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The differences between automation engineering technicians and process 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 technician. Additionally, an automation engineering technician has an average salary of $89,591, which is higher than the $39,462 average annual salary of a process technician.
The top three skills for an automation engineering technician include PLC, HMI and automation engineering. The most important skills for a process technician are basic math, patients, and OSHA.
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $89,591 | $39,462 |
| Hourly rate | $43.07 | $18.97 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 81,592 | 74,367 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| 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 technician is responsible for managing the equipment and machinery used for various industries, such as manufacturing and engineering. Process technicians must have a strong knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on operating certain equipment types and making adjustments on its features as needed, depending on the needs of the operation. They also run diagnostic tests to check a machine's working condition to ensure that it's free of any inconsistencies. A process technician also helps develop structure methods by communicating with the technical team and escalating all defective findings to the supervisor.
Automation engineering technicians and process technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Technician | |
| Average salary | $89,591 | $39,462 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $121,000 | Between $30,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Santa Clara, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | - | HP |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an automation engineering technician and a process technician in terms of educational background:
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Purdue University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between automation engineering technicians' and process technicians' demographics:
| Automation Engineering Technician | Process Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% | Male, 73.2% Female, 26.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |