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The differences between electronics engineering technicians and electronics engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an electronics engineering technician, becoming an electronics engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an electronics engineer has an average salary of $93,985, which is higher than the $67,801 average annual salary of an electronics engineering technician.
The top three skills for an electronics engineering technician include troubleshoot, RF and hand tools. The most important skills for an electronics engineer are analog, RF, and power electronics.
| Electronics Engineering Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $67,801 | $93,985 |
| Hourly rate | $32.60 | $45.19 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 73,798 | 83,870 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
Electronics Engineering Technician helps engineers design and advance electronic devices and components, install electrical equipment, and maintain electronic systems. They usually work in product evaluation and testing. They use diagnostic and measuring devices to test, adjust, and repair equipment. They ensure customer satisfaction by minimizing downtime, correcting and troubleshooting errors. Further duties include training new technicians in troubleshooting various equipment or product, giving management performance recommendations, testing the system by setting up equipment under simulated conditions, and documenting the troubleshooting process.
An electronics engineer specializes in designing and developing electronic components and systems, ensuring efficiency in all aspects. They are primarily responsible for conducting tests and maintenance for systems, identifying any faults or inconsistencies, and performing corrective measures right away. Moreover, an electronics engineer must coordinate with clients to consult them on their needs and meet with other skilled engineers to ensure optimal quality of equipment. An electronics engineer may also perform administrative tasks, mainly to produce progress reports and presentations, manage schedules, and craft instructional written materials for all electronic systems.
Electronics engineering technicians and electronics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronics Engineering Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average salary | $67,801 | $93,985 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $93,000 | Between $68,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Carlos, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Texas Instruments | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electronics engineering technician and an electronics engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electronics Engineering Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electronics engineering technicians' and electronics engineers' demographics:
| Electronics Engineering Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.4% Female, 6.6% | Male, 91.2% Female, 8.8% |
| 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, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 15.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |