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The differences between electronics technicians and test 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 electronics technician and a test technician. Additionally, an electronics technician has an average salary of $46,660, which is higher than the $43,171 average annual salary of a test technician.
The top three skills for an electronics technician include hand tools, RF and ladders. The most important skills for a test technician are test procedures, test results, and hand tools.
| Electronics Technician | Test Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $46,660 | $43,171 |
| Hourly rate | $22.43 | $20.76 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 83,284 | 71,414 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 52% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A test technician is responsible for running multiple diagnostic tests on various tools and equipment to boost optimization and ensure its efficient performance on operations. Test technicians inspect system components and manage calibration, following clients' specifications or the business' needs. A test technician also analyzes the system's design processes and features to understand its complexities and identify necessary upgrades. Test technicians keep a record of system issues and resolutions for reference. A test technician must have excellent knowledge of the technical and mechanical industry to perform tasks and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
Electronics technicians and test technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Electronics Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average salary | $46,660 | $43,171 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $66,000 | Between $30,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Montana | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Jacobs Engineering Group | Nokia |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between an electronics technician and a test technician in terms of educational background:
| Electronics Technician | Test Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 52% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Northeastern University | Northeastern University |
Here are the differences between electronics technicians' and test technicians' demographics:
| Electronics Technician | Test Technician | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |