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The differences between electronics 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 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 $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 electronics engineer are analog, RF, and power electronics.
| Electronics Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $46,660 | $93,985 |
| Hourly rate | $22.43 | $45.19 |
| Growth rate | - | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 83,284 | 83,870 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
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.
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 technicians and electronics engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronics Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average salary | $46,660 | $93,985 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $66,000 | Between $68,000 And $129,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Berkeley, CA |
| Highest paying state | Montana | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electronics technician and an electronics engineer in terms of educational background:
| Electronics Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electronics technicians' and electronics engineers' demographics:
| Electronics Technician | Electronics Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | 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% |