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The differences between chemical processors and chemical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chemical processor and a chemical technician. Additionally, a chemical technician has an average salary of $42,584, which is higher than the $37,953 average annual salary of a chemical processor.
The top three skills for a chemical processor include hazardous materials, safety procedures and OSHA. The most important skills for a chemical technician are lab equipment, safety procedures, and hazardous materials.
| Chemical Processor | Chemical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,953 | $42,584 |
| Hourly rate | $18.25 | $20.47 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 8,357 | 40,191 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Chemical processors are the workers who prepare a variety of chemicals for manufacturing and production. The processors operate and monitor the equipment that controls the chemical reactions when processing consumer or industrial products. They ensure that the work performed in the operations meets the work quality standards and that all materials and equipment follow the specifications when used. Also, they must have the ability to read and understand blueprints to make sure that every part of their equipment is in excellent condition before use.
A chemical technician is responsible for supporting chemists and laboratory technicians in performing laboratory investigations and examining chemical components and structures. Chemical technicians ensure the stability of laboratory tools and equipment, performing proper sterilization and segregation of disposable materials, and maintaining the adequacy of inventory. They also record the research progress, including scientific methods, and write observation reports for reference. A chemical technician manages the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility to avoid potential hazards and complications during chemical operations.
Chemical processors and chemical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chemical Processor | Chemical Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,953 | $42,584 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $30,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | - | Maryland |
| Best paying company | - | Calpine |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a chemical processor and a chemical technician in terms of educational background:
| Chemical Processor | Chemical Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Chemistry |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon |
Here are the differences between chemical processors' and chemical technicians' demographics:
| Chemical Processor | Chemical Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 80.5% Female, 19.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 8.3% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 6.9% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |