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The differences between electronics repair technicians and engineering technicians 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 repair technician, becoming an engineering technician takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an engineering technician has an average salary of $60,273, which is higher than the $41,516 average annual salary of an electronics repair technician.
The top three skills for an electronics repair technician include electronic devices, night vision equipment and hand tools. The most important skills for an engineering technician are technical support, data collection, and test equipment.
| Electronics Repair Technician | Engineering Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,516 | $60,273 |
| Hourly rate | $19.96 | $28.98 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 60,023 | 111,343 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
An electronics repair technician assists in the design, development, testing, repair, and maintenance of electronic and electrical equipment and devices such as computers, navigational equipment, and communication equipment. Your duties will include configuring files on routers, hubs, switches, and internet controllers, installing new electronic systems and equipment, and running software tests and upgrading software. Additional duties include performing preventative maintenance, maintaining reports and manuals, training new technicians in problem prevention and troubleshooting, and removing and replacing faulty components and parts.
An Engineering Technician's duties vary according to the industry or company, whether mechanical, industrial, civil, agricultural, or more. However, most of the time, the responsibilities often revolve around resolving technical issues, working with and assisting Engineers in building, assembling, designing, gathering and testing data, and conducting more manual activities. Furthermore, Engineering Technicians can specialize and work in various fields after a certain training period, closely mentored or monitored by an engineer or someone with extensive expertise.
Electronics repair technicians and engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronics Repair Technician | Engineering Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,516 | $60,273 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $56,000 | Between $37,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Burbank, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | BWX Technologies | Western Digital |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electronics repair technician and an engineering technician in terms of educational background:
| Electronics Repair Technician | Engineering Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Purdue University |
Here are the differences between electronics repair technicians' and engineering technicians' demographics:
| Electronics Repair Technician | Engineering Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 9.2% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |