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The differences between equipment mechanics and equipment technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an equipment mechanic has an average salary of $45,435, which is higher than the $41,004 average annual salary of an equipment technician.
The top three skills for an equipment mechanic include hand tools, preventive maintenance and CDL. The most important skills for an equipment technician are preventative maintenance, patients, and equipment maintenance.
| Equipment Mechanic | Equipment Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $45,435 | $41,004 |
| Hourly rate | $21.84 | $19.71 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 50,409 | 127,258 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
An equipment mechanic specializes in inspecting and repairing mechanical systems, ensuring quality and efficiency. They typically respond to issues and concerns, identify client needs, conduct inspections, and perform corrective measures and repairs as needed. An equipment mechanic may also liaise with clients, explaining to them the extent of repairs and provide cost-estimates. Furthermore, it is essential to perform regular maintenance checks to ensure its efficiency and safety of operators, all while building positive relationships with customers to strengthen the client base.
An equipment technician is responsible for handling the operations of company equipment and machinery, inspecting for any malfunctions, and immediately repairing defective components to prevent delays in productivity. Equipment technicians create a report of system failures, referencing documentation to develop consistency with the equipment, and suggest corrective actions. They should also analyze schematics and blueprints for guides on how to maintain the equipment's reliability. An equipment technician must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on enhancing equipment's performance and maximizing operational productivity.
Equipment mechanics and equipment technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equipment Mechanic | Equipment Technician | |
| Average salary | $45,435 | $41,004 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Hologic | Westinghouse Appliances Australia |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Construction |
There are a few differences between an equipment mechanic and an equipment technician in terms of educational background:
| Equipment Mechanic | Equipment Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between equipment mechanics' and equipment technicians' demographics:
| Equipment Mechanic | Equipment Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.5% Female, 3.5% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 1.8% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.0% White, 69.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 1% | 9% |