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The differences between electronic instrument 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 an electronic instrument technician and a test technician. Additionally, an electronic instrument technician has an average salary of $52,630, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.
The top three skills for an electronic instrument technician include computer system, transducers and PLC. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.
| Electronic Instrument Technician | Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,630 | $43,171 |
| Hourly rate | $25.30 | $20.76 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 40,520 | 71,414 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An electronic instrument technician is responsible for choosing the best electrical instruments. They are the first to test an electronic instrument to check for any damage and conduct repairs as needed. They are also responsible for evaluating electronic instruments using different assessing systems. Maintenance of the tools used and scheduled troubleshooting is also the technician's job. They can be working inside a factory, standing for long hours, so strong stamina is needed. They can also be seen inside a retail store, so good communication skills are necessary.
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.
Electronic instrument technicians and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronic Instrument Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,630 | $43,171 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $72,000 | Between $30,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Nokia |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electronic instrument technician and a test technician in terms of educational background:
| Electronic Instrument Technician | 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 electronic instrument technicians' and test technicians' demographics:
| Electronic Instrument Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.6% Female, 3.4% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| 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% |