Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between general service technicians and plant technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a general service technician and a plant technician. Additionally, a plant technician has an average salary of $46,164, which is higher than the $28,048 average annual salary of a general service technician.
The top three skills for a general service technician include customer service, maintenance services and strong customer service. The most important skills for a plant technician are preventive maintenance, ladders, and data collection.
| General Service Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $28,048 | $46,164 |
| Hourly rate | $13.48 | $22.19 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 163,387 | 146,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
General service technicians are skilled employees who are responsible for performing maintenance duties for automobiles and other light vehicles. These technicians are required to interact with customers to discuss cost estimates for performing automotive maintenance services. They must conduct visual vehicle inspections and perform any necessary repairs or replacement of automotive parts. They are required to be skillful in operating machines that mount and balance the tires of vehicles. General service technicians must also check the electrical systems of vehicles and should know how to install car batteries.
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.
General service technicians and plant technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Service Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average salary | $28,048 | $46,164 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $35,000 | Between $31,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cupertino, CA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | All American Group | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a general service technician and a plant technician in terms of educational background:
| General Service Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between general service technicians' and plant technicians' demographics:
| General Service Technician | Plant Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 2% | 2% |