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Debug technician vs instrument technician

The differences between debug technicians and instrument 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 debug technician and an instrument technician. Additionally, an instrument technician has an average salary of $56,918, which is higher than the $49,375 average annual salary of a debug technician.

The top three skills for a debug technician include debugging, RF and functional test. The most important skills for an instrument technician are patients, surgical instruments, and cleanliness.

Debug technician vs instrument technician overview

Debug TechnicianInstrument Technician
Yearly salary$49,375$56,918
Hourly rate$23.74$27.36
Growth rate--
Number of jobs37,51045,965
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 62%Associate Degree, 48%
Average age5050
Years of experience1212

Debug technician vs instrument technician salary

Debug technicians and instrument technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Debug TechnicianInstrument Technician
Average salary$49,375$56,918
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $63,000Between $38,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City-Palo Alto, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Phillips 66
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between debug technician and instrument technician education

There are a few differences between a debug technician and an instrument technician in terms of educational background:

Debug TechnicianInstrument Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 62%Associate Degree, 48%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityNortheastern University

Debug technician vs instrument technician demographics

Here are the differences between debug technicians' and instrument technicians' demographics:

Debug TechnicianInstrument Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 89.3% Female, 10.7%Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between debug technician and instrument technician duties and responsibilities

Debug technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Prepare Linux debug workstations for new staff.
  • Work with the SMT line, helping to lower build relate defects.
  • Perform various electronic component replacements and repair (SMT devices include).
  • Perform PC card upgrades for customers and the manufacturing and technical service areas.
  • Show technical leadership in investigation and troubleshooting of first articles, PCB's and customer returns.
  • Show more

Instrument technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead the planning and coordination of QC instrumentation and software qualification to be compliant with best practices.
  • Lead a team of 10 engineers to develop an infrare telescope that are launched on the NASA high-altitude balloonproject BRRISON/BOPPS.
  • Accomplish team sales of 464K in clinical chemistry and hematology instrumentation.
  • Adhere to safe work practices including lock out/tag out, OSHA regulations, NFPA, and NEC code regulations.
  • Clean and sterilize various surgical instruments for multiple surgery cases.
  • Skil in the installation, maintenance, electrical devices from 24 volt DC to 4160 VAC.
  • Show more

Debug technician vs instrument technician skills

Common debug technician skills
  • Debugging, 11%
  • RF, 9%
  • Functional Test, 7%
  • Test Procedures, 5%
  • IPC, 5%
  • Linux, 5%
Common instrument technician skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Surgical Instruments, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Control Systems, 5%
  • PLC, 4%

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