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The differences between calibration technicians and technical testing engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a calibration technician, becoming a technical testing engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical testing engineer has an average salary of $88,367, which is higher than the $46,908 average annual salary of a calibration technician.
The top three skills for a calibration technician include metrology, customer service and calibration procedures. The most important skills for a technical testing engineer are test results, schematics, and test procedures.
| Calibration Technician | Technical Testing Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $46,908 | $88,367 |
| Hourly rate | $22.55 | $42.48 |
| Growth rate | - | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 48,741 | 100,815 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 48% | Associate Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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.
A technical testing engineer is responsible for inspecting and reporting the quality of products across the production cycle. You will thoroughly check procedures, materials, and electrical and mechanical systems to produce high-quality products for customers. Your main job is to test various components and features of the product to identify and resolve technical issues. Other duties include organizing and conducting training for junior team members, creating test environments, and identifying the root cause of technical issues.
Calibration technicians and technical testing engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Calibration Technician | Technical Testing Engineer | |
| Average salary | $46,908 | $88,367 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $62,000 And $125,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Issaquah, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Boehringer Ingelheim | Western Digital |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a calibration technician and a technical testing engineer in terms of educational background:
| Calibration Technician | Technical Testing Engineer | |
| 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 technical testing engineers' demographics:
| Calibration Technician | Technical Testing Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% | Male, 89.7% Female, 10.3% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.8% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |