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Digital technician vs test technician

The differences between digital technicians and 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 digital technician and a test technician. Additionally, a digital technician has an average salary of $73,262, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.

The top three skills for a digital technician include photography, adobe creative suite and technical support. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.

Digital technician vs test technician overview

Digital TechnicianTest Technician
Yearly salary$73,262$43,171
Hourly rate$35.22$20.76
Growth rate--
Number of jobs54,24371,414
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Associate Degree, 45%
Average age5050
Years of experience1212

What does a digital technician do?

Digital Technicians are responsible for producing design presentations and digital models through sketches, electronic visualizations, and software. Their duties include producing engineering sketches and drawings, developing building information models (BIM), conducting virtual design assessments, preparing engineering calculations and measurements, and attending design meetings. They are responsible for visiting sites, making design presentations, and participating in training workshops. Digital technicians assist in performing administrative duties for a project.

What does a test technician do?

A test technician is responsible for running multiple diagnostic tests on various tools and equipment to boost optimization and ensure its efficient performance on operations. Test technicians inspect system components and manage calibration, following clients' specifications or the business' needs. A test technician also analyzes the system's design processes and features to understand its complexities and identify necessary upgrades. Test technicians keep a record of system issues and resolutions for reference. A test technician must have excellent knowledge of the technical and mechanical industry to perform tasks and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.

Digital technician vs test technician salary

Digital technicians and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Digital TechnicianTest Technician
Average salary$73,262$43,171
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $134,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CityHouston, TXWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew JerseyHawaii
Best paying companyMorgan StanleyNokia
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between digital technician and test technician education

There are a few differences between a digital technician and a test technician in terms of educational background:

Digital TechnicianTest Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Associate Degree, 45%
Most common majorPhotographyElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityNortheastern University

Digital technician vs test technician demographics

Here are the differences between digital technicians' and test technicians' demographics:

Digital TechnicianTest Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 75.9% Female, 24.1%Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4%
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 digital technician and test technician duties and responsibilities

Digital technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the tier-2 ticketing system and propagate hot topic responses to the SharePoint knowledge base.
  • Service and maintain all PC's and Macintosh equipment.
  • Burned plates digitally on a CREO platemaker.
  • Create CMYK prepress proofs using Agfa match-print material.
  • Check metal plates as they print from the CTP.
  • Operate scanner to produce digital files for use in CTP processes.
  • Show more

Test technician example responsibilities.

  • Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Perform in-circuit emulation and boundary scan testing (JTAG).
  • Perform extensive testing on CVD, PVD, display and solar tooling.
  • Configure bios to better suit the operating system, motherboard and CPU's needs and requirements.
  • Use of micrometers, calipers, torque wrenches, rivet and crimping tools, electrical test equipment, drill presses.
  • Show more

Digital technician vs test technician skills

Common digital technician skills
  • Photography, 18%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 9%
  • Technical Support, 9%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 7%
  • Windows, 7%
  • Capture One Pro, 6%
Common test technician skills
  • Test Procedures, 8%
  • Test Results, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Test Data, 5%
  • RF, 5%
  • Engineering Drawings, 4%

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