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The differences between electrical controls technicians and electrical test technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both an electrical controls technician and an electrical test technician. Additionally, an electrical controls technician has an average salary of $61,087, which is higher than the $52,690 average annual salary of an electrical test technician.
The top three skills for an electrical controls technician include PLC, allen-bradley and electrical equipment. The most important skills for an electrical test technician are troubleshoot, safety procedures, and electrical systems.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $61,087 | $52,690 |
| Hourly rate | $29.37 | $25.33 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 42,521 | 86,608 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
Electrical control technicians usually assist with running equipment such as those in amusement parks and carnivals. They can also repair equipment and are responsible for maintaining robotic machinery used by factories and plants for continuity of work and production. They can also install electrical wirings, troubleshoot minor glitches, and maintain good machine performance. With enough skills, they can shut down faulty wiring without interrupting other operations. They keep records of previous malfunctions and advise on the replacement of equipment.
An electrical test technician is an individual who assures the proper functioning of electrical power systems. Electrical test technicians execute tests on manufactured products. The technicians manipulate and monitor the processes and instruments used in testing the products. They perform periodic tests on equipment in service to extend service life and indicate the necessity of corrective maintenance or replacement. Also, they investigate issues associated with production.
Electrical controls technicians and electrical test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $61,087 | $52,690 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $81,000 | Between $35,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fremont, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Bunge | City of Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electrical controls technician and an electrical test technician in terms of educational background:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Test Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electrical controls technicians' and electrical test technicians' demographics:
| Electrical Controls Technician | Electrical Test Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.4% Female, 3.6% | Male, 92.7% Female, 7.3% |
| 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, 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% |