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The differences between calibration technicians and assembly & 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 a calibration technician and an assembly & test technician. Additionally, a calibration technician has an average salary of $46,908, which is higher than the $38,774 average annual salary of an assembly & test technician.
The top three skills for a calibration technician include metrology, customer service and calibration procedures. The most important skills for an assembly & test technician are mechanical assembly, aerospace, and dexterity.
| Calibration Technician | Assembly & Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,908 | $38,774 |
| Hourly rate | $22.55 | $18.64 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 48,741 | 64,354 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The calibration technician's primary role in manufacturing industries is to make sure that measurements taken with the use of equipment are accurate. They are responsible for the regular monitoring and maintenance of equipment and instruments to ensure that their readings and output match the desired results. Their duties include testing, maintenance, routine inspection, as well as the repair of instruments and manufacturing equipment. Important skills required for the job include keen attention to detail, analytical skills, and coordination for conducting tests with various equipment.
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.
Calibration technicians and assembly & test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Calibration Technician | Assembly & Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,908 | $38,774 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $30,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Beverly, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | BWX Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a calibration technician and an assembly & test technician in terms of educational background:
| Calibration Technician | Assembly & Test Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between calibration technicians' and assembly & test technicians' demographics:
| Calibration Technician | Assembly & Test Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 85.4% Female, 14.6% |
| 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% |