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Electronics technician vs electrical engineering technician

The differences between electronics technicians and electrical 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 technician, becoming an electrical engineering technician takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, an electrical engineering technician has an average salary of $56,704, which is higher than the $46,660 average annual salary of an electronics technician.

The top three skills for an electronics technician include hand tools, RF and ladders. The most important skills for an electrical engineering technician are test equipment, PLC, and CAD.

Electronics technician vs electrical engineering technician overview

Electronics TechnicianElectrical Engineering Technician
Yearly salary$46,660$56,704
Hourly rate$22.43$27.26
Growth rate--
Number of jobs83,284133,838
Job satisfaction4.5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 52%Associate Degree, 43%
Average age5050
Years of experience1210

What does an electronics technician do?

An electronics technician is responsible for the maintenance of the technology and electrical equipment to ensure its performance with the highest quality standards. Electronics technicians' duties include troubleshooting, replacing malfunction equipment components, upgrading technology and software systems, operating machines, diagnosing defects, analyzing blueprints, conducting system installations, and creating reports for technological procedures. An electronics technician must have excellent attention to detail and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to multi-task in performing tasks accurately and efficiently to deliver the best services to clients.

What does an electrical engineering technician do?

An electrical engineering technician is responsible for evaluating and designing electrical systems and improving the control equipment to support business functions and operations. Electrical engineering technicians assemble and install components by analyzing blueprints and schematics accurately. They also strategize cost-reduction techniques without compromising the quality standards, requiring them to negotiate with trusted suppliers and vendors for tools and materials needed for the production. An electrical engineering technician monitors the conceptualization of layout designs until the final output launch to ensure stability and prevent downtimes.

Electronics technician vs electrical engineering technician salary

Electronics technicians and electrical engineering technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Electronics TechnicianElectrical Engineering Technician
Average salary$46,660$56,704
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $66,000Between $41,000 And $76,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWalnut Creek, CA
Highest paying stateMontanaAlaska
Best paying companyJacobs Engineering GroupApplied Materials
Best paying industryEnergyTransportation

Differences between electronics technician and electrical engineering technician education

There are a few differences between an electronics technician and an electrical engineering technician in terms of educational background:

Electronics TechnicianElectrical Engineering Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 52%Associate Degree, 43%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeNortheastern UniversityNortheastern University

Electronics technician vs electrical engineering technician demographics

Here are the differences between electronics technicians' and electrical engineering technicians' demographics:

Electronics TechnicianElectrical Engineering Technician
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 91.4% Female, 8.6%Male, 91.1% Female, 8.9%
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 electronics technician and electrical engineering technician duties and responsibilities

Electronics technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Diagnose and troubleshoot malfunctions in electrical and electronic components.
  • Calibrate, troubleshoot and repair professional electronic test equipment: oscilloscopes, oscillators and pulse generators.
  • Utilize a wide array of test equipment including oscilloscopes, signal generators, and communications monitors.
  • Assemble electronic components onto print circuit boards with aid of PCB component location prints and engineer assembly documentation.
  • Help tutor other students in writing, math and electronics.
  • Show more

Electrical engineering technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage over 10,000 tags in a PC base HMI database on a 19 node network.
  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Assemble distribution DC power panels.
  • Insure all equipment meets NEC and OSHA standards.
  • Install circuit breakers, transformers, stabilizers, generators and distribution systems.
  • Interface with vendors for parts, equipment, PCB layout, and assembly.
  • Show more

Electronics technician vs electrical engineering technician skills

Common electronics technician skills
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • RF, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%
  • Preventive Maintenance, 4%
  • Oscilloscopes, 4%
  • PLC, 4%
Common electrical engineering technician skills
  • Test Equipment, 7%
  • PLC, 5%
  • CAD, 4%
  • Electrical Schematics, 4%
  • Hand Tools, 4%
  • UL, 4%

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