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Engineering assistant vs senior process technician

The differences between engineering assistants and senior process technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an engineering assistant and a senior process technician. Additionally, a senior process technician has an average salary of $77,354, which is higher than the $64,402 average annual salary of an engineering assistant.

The top three skills for an engineering assistant include troubleshoot, C++ and worksheets. The most important skills for a senior process technician are OSHA, SR, and management system.

Engineering assistant vs senior process technician overview

Engineering AssistantSenior Process Technician
Yearly salary$64,402$77,354
Hourly rate$30.96$37.19
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs53,76749,260
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

What does an engineering assistant do?

An engineering assistant is responsible for supporting the engineering department's operations under the supervision of a head engineer. Engineering assistants help with operating tools and equipment, developing and analyzing designs, communicating with clients by responding to their inquiries and concerns, creating project plans, and identifying business opportunities to generate revenues and increase profitability. An engineering assistant must have excellent knowledge of the engineering disciplines and processes to carry out tasks within strict deadlines and under minimal supervision.

What does a senior process technician do?

A senior process technician collects data through various experiments aimed at supporting the optimization of processes. They are tasked with testing existing technology, advising ways to boost production, and instituting new technology where necessary. Their other responsibilities include validating production equipment, planning and performing setups, monitoring and guiding production teams, conducting process test runs, and providing insights, technical assistance, and recommendations to engineering and process development personnel.

Engineering assistant vs senior process technician salary

Engineering assistants and senior process technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Engineering AssistantSenior Process Technician
Average salary$64,402$77,354
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $99,000Between $46,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyGoogle-
Best paying industryEnergy-

Differences between engineering assistant and senior process technician education

There are a few differences between an engineering assistant and a senior process technician in terms of educational background:

Engineering AssistantSenior Process Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessElectrical Engineering
Most common collegeStanford UniversityPurdue University

Engineering assistant vs senior process technician demographics

Here are the differences between engineering assistants' and senior process technicians' demographics:

Engineering AssistantSenior Process Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 68.8% Female, 31.2%Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 11.2% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between engineering assistant and senior process technician duties and responsibilities

Engineering assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage the RFI process to clarify discrepancies and questions concerning the plans and specifications.
  • Create, manage and maintain the ECR process to ensure accurate and timely processing.
  • Manage and distribute cad standards to contributing design consultants and assist with any design issues as necessary.
  • Assist in the maintenance of files for engineering drawings, ECO's, manufacturing specs, and BOM's.
  • Ensure documentation load into IP vault.
  • Review systems implementation to comply with RFP and plans.
  • Show more

Senior process technician example responsibilities.

  • Lead production of experimental new product in GMP environment.
  • Time manage to ensure equipment is prepared for process to prevent from delays or harvest discards.
  • Manage a team of 16 technicians on all phases of the Fab start up: from process formation to manufacturing readiness.
  • Provide manufacturing process improvement, troubleshoot software and hardware technical problems.
  • Write CNC programs using pro/e models and Mastercam.
  • Sign off in candeling, harvest, buffer prep, and weighing/dispensing.
  • Show more

Engineering assistant vs senior process technician skills

Common engineering assistant skills
  • Troubleshoot, 14%
  • C++, 13%
  • Worksheets, 11%
  • Java, 11%
  • Debugging, 7%
  • Auto CAD, 4%
Common senior process technician skills
  • OSHA, 19%
  • SR, 13%
  • Management System, 9%
  • Pathogens, 5%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%
  • R, 4%

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