Post job

Electronic systems technician vs instrument technician

The differences between electronic systems 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 an electronic systems technician and an instrument technician. Additionally, an instrument technician has an average salary of $56,918, which is higher than the $44,778 average annual salary of an electronic systems technician.

The top three skills for an electronic systems technician include troubleshoot, routine maintenance and ladders. The most important skills for an instrument technician are patients, surgical instruments, and cleanliness.

Electronic systems technician vs instrument technician overview

Electronic Systems TechnicianInstrument Technician
Yearly salary$44,778$56,918
Hourly rate$21.53$27.36
Growth rate--
Number of jobs99,08745,965
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 48%
Average age5050
Years of experience1212

Electronic systems technician vs instrument technician salary

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

Electronic Systems TechnicianInstrument Technician
Average salary$44,778$56,918
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $55,000Between $38,000 And $83,000
Highest paying CityColumbia, MDPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiHawaii
Best paying companyLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryPhillips 66
Best paying industryEnergyManufacturing

Differences between electronic systems technician and instrument technician education

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

Electronic Systems TechnicianInstrument Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 48%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityNortheastern University

Electronic systems technician vs instrument technician demographics

Here are the differences between electronic systems technicians' and instrument technicians' demographics:

Electronic Systems TechnicianInstrument Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 91.9% Female, 8.1%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 electronic systems technician and instrument technician duties and responsibilities

Electronic systems technician example responsibilities.

  • Plan and lead training programs on new software development essential to the movement to a paperless travel department for DoD.
  • Co-developed custom GUI for in house software applications (C++).
  • Perform all through hole and SMT soldering.
  • Execute documentation and reporting in compliance with ISO standards.
  • Test and repair LCD panels and prepare them for shipment.
  • Create new categories for tasking assignments within the NextGen EMR application.
  • 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

Electronic systems technician vs instrument technician skills

Common electronic systems technician skills
  • Troubleshoot, 10%
  • Routine Maintenance, 6%
  • Ladders, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 5%
  • Control Systems, 5%
  • Computer System, 5%
Common instrument technician skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Surgical Instruments, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Hand Tools, 5%
  • Control Systems, 5%
  • PLC, 4%

Browse architecture and engineering jobs