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Field service technician vs technician

The differences between field service technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a field service technician, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a field service technician has an average salary of $54,339, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.

The top three skills for a field service technician include customer service, preventative maintenance and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Field service technician vs technician overview

Field Service TechnicianTechnician
Yearly salary$54,339$38,045
Hourly rate$26.12$18.29
Growth rate8%1%
Number of jobs167,298596,842
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age4440
Years of experience122

What does a field service technician do?

Field service technicians are skilled professionals who manage the technical needs of their clients outside the company's physical office space. They are usually on the field to visit their clients and check up on clients' equipment. Field service technicians are dispatched to provide technical support. They oversee installations, repairs, or maintenance activities. They ensure that all the work needed is done well. They also conduct diagnostic activities and troubleshooting. Field service technicians also supervise any updating or changes needed to be done in their clients' offices. They are expected to have good analytical skills, communication skills, and highly technical skills.

What does a technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Field service technician vs technician salary

Field service technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field Service TechnicianTechnician
Average salary$54,339$38,045
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $82,000Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyGoogleMicrosoft
Best paying industryFinanceTelecommunication

Differences between field service technician and technician education

There are a few differences between a field service technician and a technician in terms of educational background:

Field Service TechnicianTechnician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorElectrical EngineeringBusiness
Most common college--

Field service technician vs technician demographics

Here are the differences between field service technicians' and technicians' demographics:

Field Service TechnicianTechnician
Average age4440
Gender ratioMale, 92.3% Female, 7.7%Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 1.7% White, 72.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage1%2%

Differences between field service technician and technician duties and responsibilities

Field service technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage onsite supporting contractors to achieve customers end result to satisfaction.
  • Lead initiatives to decrease manufacturing downtime and increase QA process inspection.
  • Manage a team of 12 field engineers and 130 MRI systems in NYC.
  • Collaborate to achieve a Citrix solution for the IADC shop floor and implement the current server farm.
  • Manage and administer network security, LAN, WLAN, desktops, servers, applications, and databases.
  • Manage and service access control technology to include Honeywell's StarII and TEMA, and PCSC MicroLPM and IQ series controllers.
  • Show more

Technician example responsibilities.

  • Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
  • Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
  • Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
  • Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
  • Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
  • Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.
  • Show more

Field service technician vs technician skills

Common field service technician skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Technical Support, 5%
  • Hand Tools, 4%
  • Test Equipment, 3%
Common technician skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Hand Tools, 6%
  • Diagnosis, 5%
  • Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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