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The differences between equipment technicians and plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a plant technician has an average salary of $46,164, which is higher than the $41,004 average annual salary of an equipment technician.
The top three skills for an equipment technician include preventative maintenance, patients and equipment maintenance. The most important skills for a plant technician are preventive maintenance, ladders, and data collection.
| Equipment Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,004 | $46,164 |
| Hourly rate | $19.71 | $22.19 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 127,258 | 146,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
A plant technician is in charge of overseeing plant operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities include installing and upgrading machines and equipment, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, implementing solutions to vulnerable or problem areas, and developing strategies to optimize plant operations. They must also perform regular maintenance checks, conducting corrective measures and adjustments as needed. Furthermore, a plant technician must provide technical support to employees, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Equipment technicians and plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Equipment Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,004 | $46,164 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $56,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Utilities |
There are a few differences between an equipment technician and a plant technician in terms of educational background:
| Equipment Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | - |
Here are the differences between equipment technicians' and plant technicians' demographics:
| Equipment Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 2% |